So I've rewritten this chapter at least twenty times before posting it
lol gods help me.
So haha, this is just the prelude to the pain to come

I do hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Game of Thrones

Chapter 16: A Lion Watches

Color began to meld into one, showing the world in nothing but light and beauty. His hair stuck to his skin thanks to the buckets of sweat he was drenched in. The boy sat up, leaning his head against the headboard, trying to ease the aching pain that radiated through his body. His eyes were shut tightly trying to think on something else but the pain. It felt almost as if something was torn from his body; something big. He was taking deep breaths trying to calm his racing heart. He clenched the bed linens trying to get a good grasp on the world around him. He wasn't comfortable where he was but he sure as hell couldn't walk. The boy couldn't even feel his legs for that matter.

His dream was something else entirely. At least his scar wasn't bleeding anymore. Naruto froze once again, this time, eyes as wide as plates. He wasn't bleeding! Naruto used as much strength as he could to fight off the abhorrent pain that exploded through his body. The boy's hand and arm clenched, nearly bringing a scream from the prince, but he didn't care. He wanted to check something. His hand traced along the supposed scar and stitches, but the boy found none. All he felt were the follicles of hair and soft, smooth skin. The boy gasped in surprise and shot his hand down. The boy's blue eyes trailed over to see a blade and a small collection of cut string sitting on his bedside table.

He narrowed his eyes at the sight and nearly decided to go back to sleep. Suddenly, the door shot open to reveal Sansa and Bran with Summer and Lady at their sides. The four of them came to Naruto and pulled up seats next to his bed while Summer and Lady jumped up to join Naruto. The two wolves cuddled on top of Naruto, their heads leaning on his lap. Naruto took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his brow and scratched the back of his head with a blank expression on his face. It was clear that he wanted to know something.

"Naruto are you alright?" Bran asked. "We were training yesterday and you fainted."

"I did?" Naruto asked with wide eyes. "I don't remember much about yesterday…"

A week had occurred since the attack on Lord Stark and the Crown had never been in the midst of such a delicate situation as this. Lannisters were neck to neck with the Vale of Arryn and the Starks were claiming to aid the Valemen should the Westerlands make a move on them. But that wasn't all; tensions between House Lannister and House Stark were all but about to explode in all directions and engulf the entirety of the Seven Kingdoms. Naruto and Bran were forced to do more extensive training in case a war was to break out. This wasn't going to be pleasant.

The knights of the Vale were just as fearsome as the knights of the Westerlands. The kingdoms of the South were equally matched so if a war was to blow off, it would be the bloodbath of the century. Something Naruto wasn't looking forward to. That was a conflict that Naruto hoped no one else was wanting. Shaking his head from the sudden recollection of this past week's issues, Naruto could only nod his head in understanding. Bran and Sansa were worried about him since he'd been knocked out since midday yesterday.

"Well, we hope you're going to be better later today." Bran smiled. "I was hoping we could get some spear training done."

"I'm fine." Naruto lied. "Let's go and train!"

Naruto threw the blanket from over his body, scaring Lady and Summer from their naps. The two whimpered and growled at Naruto for a second before jumping off to join their masters. Naruto led the way, but stumbled slightly, nearly collapsing to the floor completely. Naruto shot his hands out and rested on the wall with a small laugh escaping his lips to ease the tension. Bran sped forward to help the prince to a more steady position. Naruto shivered and stood still, feeling his legs start to work again. Blood flowed through his veins and arteries, filling his body with warmth and much needed strength. He leaned his head back and took a soft breath.

"First…" Naruto's stomach growled gaining a few growls from Lady and Summer. "I need to eat real soon."

Mayra washed the final plate clean and wiped the sweat from her brow. Next to her, a pile of clean plates and other various dishes were stacked. She moved through the kitchen along with the other kitchen maids, working tirelessly. She yawned but then was told to cook some bacon, pork sausage and cut potatoes. She knew exactly who ordered that and went along her business. She went ahead, tossing the bacon into a wrought iron pan over a burning fire spit. Along with pork sausage cooking next to it. As the juices of the meats sizzled and popped around, she went ahead to cut the raw potatoes.

Wedged then diced. Soon enough, she tossed them along onto the pan as well, throwing spices like saffron and pepper. She stirred them along, evenly cooking them. Once the boiling, juices splashed onto her cheek, she knew it was done and ready. Pulling a plate from the stack, she slid the meal onto it with professional perfection. She scratched her brow and wiped the sweat from her cheek before lifting the plate to deliver to the Prince. She was about to continue, but another kitchen wench arrived and slapped a plate filled with lemon cakes into her other hand and told her it was for Lady Sansa. Mayra took a deep breath sighed, moving along.

She leaned back and the door shot open to reveal the Prince, his betrothed and his squire, all sitting together with big smiles on their faces. She heard of how Naruto fainted yesterday, but she was a bit surprised to see how quickly he'd healed. She moved along though, swiftness and a beauty of air in her steps as she came closer to Naruto's table. Naruto looked up at her and immediately gave her a beaming smile. She couldn't help but to smile back and handed him his plate, filled to the brim with more than enough bacon and sausage. She placed the plate of lemon cakes in front of Sansa and walked off without sparing Naruto another glance.

She watched him though, from the corner of her eye. As he ate, his body looked more full of color. The more he ate, the better the boy began to look. The beads of sweat on his forehead disappeared soon enough. Once his plate was cleaned of any article of food or meal, Naruto looked almost as good as new, completely rejuvenated. His smile was ten times brighter and he began to talk more, flapping his lips and mouth ten times as before. She took a deep breath and headed along; he was probably just hungry after all. But despite the probably coincidence, she was still going to deliver the message to Hardyn and Kathryn. Their boss, Prince Joffrey would probably want to know this information.

Mayra pushed on the doors, disappearing into the kitchen returning to whence she came. But just as she entered the kitchen, she was handed a large plate filled with meal and raw meat. The girl gave the woman a confused look, but the woman simply pushed on the door and pointed to the two giant wolves sitting with Naruto and the Starks. Mayra took a deep breath and sighed in despair. This must have been one of those days then. She trudged back out with a weak frown growing with each coming step. Not only that, but the damned dog food seemed to be getting heavier and heavier the longer she held the plate. Lady and Summer turned their heads to Mayra with their tongues hanging from their mouths.

"Oh no."

Lady and Summer suddenly shot forward and tackled the girl, gnawing into the raw meat and meal, some of it flying onto Mayra as well. Lady turned her attention to Mayra and immediately started licking her face of meal and blood. Naruto and Bran burst into laughter and Sansa tried her best to apologize to Mayra for Lady's actions. Mayra shook her head and bowed her head to the three lords and petted the two direwolves before walking off. She sighed once again raising her apron to her face to wipe the saliva from her face. She needed to be more careful next time and think her approach better. If she was going to continue her assignment, she'd need to get past those direwolves.

Naruto walked along the perimeter of the Red Keep, sword at his side and a shield on his back. Next to him, Bran was dressed the same, sword at his side and a shield strapped to his back. The two of them were dressed in the armor of their Houses. Naruto wore a breastplate of plate armor bearing the sigil of House Baratheon and House Lannister while Bran wore the standard leather hauberk of House Stark. No longer were things going the way they wanted. No longer could they play around and have fun within the castle. Things weren't that simple anymore.

They were finally about to begin their training with live steel. Done they were with blunted blades. Now was the time to step up their training and begin the next stage of Bran's ascendancy to Knighthood. A war is coming and the Lions were clawing at the Falcons of the Moon. Naruto could only know that things were going to get worse. The Arryn's weren't going to give up his Uncle Tyrion and House Lannister was growing impatient. He didn't believe anything that was happening throughout the realm, but who was he to tell the lords at court otherwise. Naruto stopped for a moment and thought along the lines of how his mother used to act before they went to Winterfell.

She always talked about family and always talked about being a Lannister. Not once did she say anything about being a stag or being a Baratheon but always said he was a lion just as she would for the rest of her children. Naruto took a deep breath, snapping from his reverie. He looked around, blue eyes trailing along the afternoon silhouette of the Red Keep. Naruto sighed with a glare, staring endlessly to the various tips and pointed roofs of the towers of the Keep. Something was going to happen soon and Naruto knew it in his bones. A dark foreboding feeling was simmering within.

The two arrived at the training field to meet their new Master-at-Arms; Ser Delran Bayle of Crackclaw Point. Knighted during the Greyjoy Rebellion, the man was a great fighter and even personally chosen to train the two boys on the arts of live steel fighting. It was also a good thing that Joffrey was still being a painful shit. The pompous boy still needed to do better with his blunted sword training, even then Joff couldn't do it and always avoided it in any way he can. Always disappearing during the day and returning just before dusk. It's been three weeks since the attack on Lord Stark and the days were passing, Naruto dearly needed to concentrate.

Ser Delran smiled at the prince and the young Stark at his side. his eyes trailed over to see a large wolf covered in small plates of armor, shimmering in the light of the sun above. Summer looked calm with his hazelnut eyes scanning the training circle. The wolf trailed around coming along Bran's side, barring his teeth in excitement. The wolf was ready to pounce, but Bran placed his hand against the wolf's ear, rubbing softly. Summer tilted his head down softly before yipping in joy.

Ser Delran drew his sword, the steel sliding free from its scabbard. The knight held his blade forward for the two boys to do the same. Naruto took a deep breath and gave Bran the same look. The two of them drew their swords with little to no objections. If anything their hearts were racing to speeds thought impossible prior to this spar. For Bran this was an entirely new experience. Fighting with live steel was something that the boy had never done before and expected to happen in Winterfell under the watchful eye of Ser Rodrik Cassel.

Naruto looked down at the sound of Summer's low growls. The boy was glad that his idea for a flexible armor worked in more ways than what he originally hoped. The armor contorted with Summer as he hunched his back and barred his teeth. Summer was not only protected, but he was twice as large as he was last month, easily going up to Naruto's waist. The direwolf was definitely something that House Stark would be proud of. Naruto could only imagine the growth spurt Grey Wind was going through or even Shaggydog for that matter.

The steel in his hand was tempered and balanced perfectly in his hand. The blade being about forty-six inches in length with a six inch handle for as much space as he can get for his two hands. At the end of the handle, the pommel had the head of a lion instead of a stag which slightly bothered him, but it was no matter. The eyes of the lion were different, unlike Joffrey's own bastard sword. His lion may have had emerald gems for eyes, Naruto's had bright sapphire gems for eyes. He twirled the sword in his hand and held it ready to strike.

Bran looked down to his own sword, it being a standard arming sword, the handle was made with extra grip and leather with the pommel bearing a wolf head for its design. The blade itself was only a meager thirty-five inches. At least the sword was personalized for Bran specifically. The Stark twirled his blade getting ready to face the knight. This was going to be a rough fight even with Summer at his side. If anything, Summer was who he was worried about. The direwolf attacked at his own leisure and had little to no strategy when he face opponents. That was something that he was hoping Ser Delran would fix.

"Now before we start this match, I have someone else to introduce to you." Ser Delran said, snapping his fingers. "This is Lady Taerina Baerratis, she is an expert with fighting alongside animals and at my request, she came along from Selhorys and she arrived two days ago with her personal battle aide."

Naruto and Bran gave the man a strange look before turning their heads over to see a beautiful woman with copper skin wearing a tiger skin cloak over her shoulders. At her side, a scimitar was dangling free of a scabbard. But it wasn't her appearance that got Naruto and Bran, it was rather the large waist tall tiger that followed at her side. The tiger was bedecked in jewelry and golden claws from a necklace around its neck. The woman walked along and stepped into the ring alongside Ser Delran. She gave the knight a look before giving both Naruto and Bran a look of disappointment.

"And here I was, believing these two to be other knights." She said with a tone neither boys liked. "I'm afraid I'm beginning to think this was a waste of time. And that wolf isn't impressive at all. Sure his armor looks expensive but money can't buy strength. Lady Soresha would kill your wolf, boys."

"Who?" Naruto asked narrowing his eyes, trying his best not to disrespect one of his teachers.

"Lady Soresha." Taerina sighed.

Suddenly, the tiger strode close to the two boys barring her teeth revealing amazing tusks protruding from her mouth. The tiger walked back to her master, jewelry dangling and ringing as it walked. Bran and Naruto were definitely terrified of the woman's companion but Summer sure as seven hells wasn't. Bran could only hope Summer was just being tough and not suicidal. The direwolf barred his teeth revealing his own teeth, while not anything special were unusually large. The wolf hunched his back and took a position. Naruto and Bran shared a look before turning their attention to their opponents.

"Bran, I'll handle Lady Taerina." Naruto said with a smirk as the two changed positions. "Lady Soresha will destroy you."

There was a pair of brown eyes watching from the gardens surrounding the training field. The woman was tending to the bushes and shrubs making sure they were always beautiful and presentable. She wore simply workers clothes and her dress was covered in wrinkles and dirt from working tirelessly from dawn to dusk. She wiped the sweat from her head and pushed the branch forward, snipping a small smidgen. Leaves were cleared and flew in the wind leaving her to continue with her caretaking of the shrub.

Her brown eyes trailed over to the fight taking place in the training circle. She narrowed her eyes but shot to the ground and began to dig at the soil, turning it over to bring the nutrients from underneath to the top. The smell was abhorrent and felt like it was burning her nose with its disgusting reek. Her eyes locked with the fight taking place in the training field while keeping up the façade of her doing work. Good thing that she wasn't the only one working in the blasted garden.

All together, there was about two hundred people working in tandem on this garden. In her opinion overkill, but who was she to give opinions to the Queen. She was a simple servant. She continued her actions, culling the dirt. But she watched with scrutinizing detail. Every move the blond prince made and ever move the little Lord made was memorized and followed. She stood once again and wiped her dress of dirt and headed along to the next bush or hedge that needed attending to. She felt along the branches extending from the bushes original shape and began to snip away.

Her eyes trailed back to the Prince and the little Lord. They were putting up a good fight against two experienced and much older opponents. The direwolf was also putting a very good fight in against the tiger that was clearly twice its size in length. The two animals clawed at each other, bit into each other, but thanks to the direwolf's armor, the tiger's teeth couldn't puncture and thanks to the tiger's larger size, Summer couldn't puncture the skin. Either way, this fight was beginning to tilt into the knight's favor. Prince and little Lord just weren't experienced enough and were wasting all of their energy on power attacks. She shook her head and dropped to her knee to cull the soil once again.

Her brown eyes scanned the area once again. The two boys were about to lose the fight just as she'd predicted. Bran was suddenly disarmed and his sword flew across the field and dug into a bush with Lady Soresha bashing Summer away and tackling Naruto to the dirt. Their defeat was so fast that the woman had to blink a few times to completely register what happened. It was all too fast. She dropped her three-pronged cultivator with a dropped jaw. The tiger backed away and the Prince wiped himself down, patting his hands against his armor to clean off the dirt.

The girl hid behind the shrubs and began to snip away at the green leaves and branches. Naruto could be heard declaring something and the sound of grinding steel could be heard once more. She turned her head to see a strange wisp of blue energy coming off of Naruto's arms. It was strange since none of the people he was facing could see it. Either that or they were simply pretending not to notice it. The boy swung faster and stronger, brining sparks to life between the clashes he had with the woman from Essos. The tiger backed away completely giving the two more space to have their fight.

The woman moved along to a different shrub closer to the fight to get a better look and now, she was within earshot of their shouts and their battle cries. Using her shears, she snipped away, looking as inconspicuous as possible. She leaned over a bush shaped into a swan and watched as the blue wisps only grew and compressed. Her brown eyes narrowed. He was stronger and faster, but definitely less controlled. He swung and swung, wildly and with no actual target in sight.

The prince kicked the woman breaking her stance and lunged forward. Her scimitar danced along the straight double-edged blade of his bastard sword, simply sliding along the length of the curved blade. The woman went back to her bush sculpture, cutting away while sneaking peeks at the fight behind the swan. She dropped to her knees as did a few other garden keepers and servants. While most weren't paying the spar any attention, the girl was able to pinpoint at least seven different people, that ranged from man, woman and child.

Suddenly, a roar was heard and her eyes snapped up to see Naruto swinging down on the woman with an undeterred amount of hatred and anger flowing off of his body. Larger wisps of energy began to flow off of his arms and even the blade itself, but the people within the sparring circle were still oblivious to their presence. But the Prince was suddenly kicked in the knee and fell to the ground. The woman bashed the pommel of her scimitar against his temple forcing him to the ground once more. She kicked him over while he gripped the throbbing bruise on his temple.

"Are you sure he's not a lion?" Taerina asked. "No stag would fight like that."

"He takes after the Lannisters in more ways than one it seems." Ser Delran sighed. "Stand and let's do this again."

The sun was falling as were the gallons of sweat down Naruto's cheeks. The boy was covered in bruises and small cuts across his face and arms. His armor was dented and torn in a few areas. Bran was no different with a few of his locks of long auburn-brown hair sliced clean. The two of them were exhausted and Summer decided to sit out the spar for the last hour and a half. Neither of them were ready to give up impressing Lady Taerina of their resilience to pain. She looked down to her left arm to see a few large cuts that Naruto had managed to give her. She smirked and sheathed her scimitar and called her tiger back. Ser Delran sheathed his sword as well bothering Naruto and Bran.

"We've done enough training for today." Ser Delran smiled. "You two have done wonderfully for the first time. Go along and get some rest. Prince Naruto, you look exceptionally tired. You should eat something."

"T-That would be a good idea." Naruto agreed. The boy took slow deep breaths nursing a large cut on his right arm. "B-Bran…I'll need your help for something."

"Sure." Bran wrapped Naruto's arm over his shoulder and led the prince over to a seat. "What is it?"

"I...am so bloody hungry." Naruto sighed. "I…I used up my energy too fast…"

"Really?" Bran gave him an incredulous look. "This is nothing like the tourney-"

'Just do it Bran!" Naruto said in a very uncharacteristic roar.

Bran gave him wide eyes but nodded anyway taking off as fast as he can back towards the Red Keep. Ser Delran and Lady Taerina walked away leaving the Prince in his chair, probably off to do the same. Naruto took slow deep breaths trying to calm the raging storm within him. A heat unknown before began to rise within his gut, searing into his stomach. His hands shot to his stomach as the pain exploded throughout. He gritted his teeth trying to fight back against it. He shut his eyes trying to fight back the images that were flowing through his mind.

Growling filled his ears and the heat began to spread throughout his body. Naruto gripped his shirt trying to claw at his stomach. He felt as if there was something within there; something alive. He could hear a deep voice reverberating from within, almost as if there was a specter within him, as if he were possessed. He shut his eyes and the image of gigantic bars appeared in his dark reverie. But just as he felt his body begin to tear, he saw great big eyes staring at him with so much hatred from in between the bars.

"Naruto!"

The prince shot from his thoughts when he felt a frantic hand shaking him. His sapphire eyes sprang open to see Bran standing over him with a plate piled high with meats and potatoes. Bran set the plate down and pulled over a large wineskin pulling the cork free. Naruto was starting to scare the young Stark. Naruto though grabbed the wineskin from Bran's hands and downed the contents faster than Bran could imagine.

Little did they know, there was a pair of brown eyes watching them with rapt attention.

Bran handed Naruto the plate, careful to not cause any of the meat or potatoes to fall from the plate. Naruto whisked the platter from Bran's hands as well and immediately dug his face into the meal. He didn't care about pleasantries nor of the massive mess he was creating. Pieces of meat and small flecks of potato were stuck to his tunic and some were covered in the wet disgust that is his salty sweat. Naruto rested the plate on his lap and started digging his hands into the meat and potato, forcing large chunks down his gullet like a fat noble.

Bran backed away with eyes as wide as could be. He'd only seen Naruto eat like this after the Tourney of the Hand. But for Naruto to eat like this meant that he was under a lot of strain. A fight like this shouldn't have caused his hunger. Bran had been training with Naruto for almost a month and never once did the prince ever run out of energy that quickly nor did he ever waste it like this. Bran sighed and pulled up a seat next to Naruto and rubbed his brows to remove the beads of sweat. He was about to try and calm Naruto, but the prince shot Bran a dark glare, that forced the boy's hand.

Bran leaned back in his seat and let the prince eat on, looking as dirty as can be. It was starting to make Bran uncomfortable with how Naruto was acting. After thirty seconds of watching the boy go at it, Bran was immediately feeling sick. Not once did Naruto stop to breathe or even drink. He just kept eating and eating. But what almost pushed Bran over the edge, Naruto was licking the plate like Summer or some crazed dog. Naruto slammed the plate on the ground and stood from his seat, a beaming smile spread across his face. He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded at Bran, his smile never leaving his face.

"Let's go and swim!"

Ned Stark took a deep breath sitting on the Iron Throne, clearly uncomfortable with where he was. Already fifteen different people came to him with complaints about things he didn't really know how to deal with. He answered as truthfully as he can but he wasn't too entirely sure he was making any real difference. The Stark rubbed his hand across his face, wiping the building sweat on his brow. He looked back and forth between Grand Maester Pycelle and Lord Baelish for their input (they'd give their input anyway).

Suddenly a man, smallfolk dressed in Riverlands garb along with seven other men. They looked shattered and dressed in tattered tunics. He came to the foot of the Iron Throne, body shaking with fear and worry as he stood before Lord Stark.

"They burned most everything in the Riverlands. Our fields; our granaries; our homes! They took our women…and they took them again. When they was done…they butchered them as if they were animals! They took our children and covered them in pitch…and lit them on fire!" The man's voice began to break.

"Brigands most likely." Grand Maester Pycelle quickly assumed.

"They weren't thieves; they didn't take nothing." The man replied with a quick response. "They even left something behind Your Grace."

"This is the King's Hand; The King is out hunting." Pycelle interrupted.

Suddenly, one of the smallfolk walked forward and turned a large sack over, pouring fish out onto the polished granite floor. Gasps of disgust echoed throughout the hall. Ned leaned into his chair taken aback at the sight. Of all the things; fish. The Stark frowned softly when Lord Baelish managed to piece it together faster than anyone present.

"Fish." The Littlefinger said. "That's the sigil of House Tully. Isn't that the sigil of your wife's house?"

"These men, were they flying a sigil?" Ned asked but was only replied with a look of confusion. "A banner?"

"None, your…erm, Hand." The man replied.

"But the man leading them was taller by a foot than any man I've ever seen." The man shivered. "I saw him cleave the blacksmith in two and I even saw him remove the head of a horse with a single swing."

"That sounds like someone we know." Lord Baelish leaned in and whispered. "The Mountain."

"You're describing Ser Gregor Clegane." Ned said.

"Ser Gregor is an anointed knight, why would he turn brigand?" Grand Maester Pycelle asked.

"I've heard him being called Tywin Lannister's Mad Dog." Lord Baelish retorted. "I'm sure you have as well. Can you think of any possible reason that the Lannisters would be angry with your wife?"

But Catelyn had nothing to do with the imprisonment of Lord Tyrion. Ned thought. If it isn't for Cat then it's for Lysa. If anything that I can probably piece together right now, Tywin is trying to draw Catelyn and probably me as well to fight. I will not fall for the Lannister's plots no longer.

"I cannot give you back your homes or restore your dead to life, but I can give you justice in the name of our King, Robert." Ned said with a powerful voice. "Lord Beric Dondarrion, I give you command. Assemble one hundred men and ride to Ser Gregor's keep."

Ned wrapped his hand around the ball of his cane, struggling to keep its balance. He gritted his teeth and wiggled to his feet, feeling the pain radiate from his leg and up to his chest. He shut his eyes and took low breaths, beads of sweat growing and cascading down his cheeks. Nevertheless, he stood tall and watched every man and woman present could see the anger in his eyes, the burning fury was visible for all to see.

"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of His Name; King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. I charge you to bring the King's justice to the false knight, Gregor Clegane and all those and all those who shared in his crimes. I denounce him and attaint him. I strip him of all ranks, titles; of all lands and holdings and I sentence him to death."

"This is a drastic choice of action my Lord…" Grand Maester Pycelle came up ready to try and convince the Stark otherwise.

"Grand Maester Pycelle, send a raven to Casterly Rock. Inform Lord Tywin that he has been summoned to King's Landing to answer for the crimes of his bannerman within the fortnight or be branded an enemy of the crown and a traitor to the realm."

"A bold move my Lord." Lord Baelish said as Ned began to walk off. "Admirable, but is it really wise? Tywin Lannister is the richest man in all the Seven Kingdoms. Gold wins wars, not soldiers."

"Then tell me why Robert is king and not Tywin Lannister."

Ned arrived in his children's room, sweat building on his brow and a dark depressing feeling within his chest. The Stark knew that his children would probably hate him for what he was about to do. The Lord limped along, leaning his body along the cane. After the stunt he'd pulled today, the Stark knew that it was going to bite him in the ass later. He just wanted to make sure that he was the only one to receive the repercussions of his actions. He couldn't let his daughters and son be the caught in the crossfire of this brutal world that they were all whisked into. He walked through the solar heading their room only to hear the yips and gleeful cries of the direwolves within.

"You think this armor could fit on Lady?"

Ned looked confused and walked faster towards the door wanting to know about the nonsense about armor going on the direwolves. He pressed against the door, pushing it open to reveal Nymeria, Lady and Summer all dressed in battle armor that seemed custom made for their bodies. Ned's eyes were wide, going along to see Bran decked in a leather hauberk bearing the Stark sigil on a thin overcoat. Bran was beginning to look like a true squire. Sansa was wearing a necklace that seemed to be bearing the sigil of a lion, clearly from the prince and Arya was wearing a necklace as well, bearing a different pendant of a lion. The sight of his children was only making this harder than it had to be.

"I am sending you back to Winterfell." Ned said, his voice cracking.

"What?!" The three children asked with glares. "What do you mean?!"

"It's not safe here anymore." Ned simply replied.

"Father, you can't do this!" Sansa replied. "Please!"

"This isn't a punishment-"

"But father, please." Bran pleaded. "I just started to learn to fight alongside Summer and I'm good at it!"

"I also just started getting good at dancing too!" Arya added.

"No one cares about either of your skills!" Sansa cried. "I can't go! I'm going to marry Naruto and be his queen and he was going to be a beautiful golden lion and I was to give him beautiful golden haired babies!"

"His sigil isn't a lion, he's a stag, like his father." Arya quickly retorted.

"He's shown more traits of being a fierce lion than being a stag like his father." Sansa replied. "He's not a drunk and he's not drowning himself in whores all the time-"

"Time for bed, the lot of you." Ned said with a sigh. "And pack your things. You leave midday on the morrow."

"But, Father!" Sansa cried out.

Arya grabbed Sansa's arm as Bran tried to push her along. Lady, Summer and Nymeria used their heads to push Sansa along as well. The metal on their heads working as hands to push the statue-like girl. Ned would have laughed at the sight if the situation wasn't so dire at the moment. He listened to the words that his eldest daughter had said and hobbled along to his desk, more sweat pouring down his brow. He collapsed into his seat and opened the book titled The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms and immediately began to turn over to House Baratheon.

"Orys Baratheon, black of hair…Borros Baratheon, black of hair…Steffon Baratheon, black of hair…Robert Baratheon, black of hair…Joffrey Baratheon, golden haired…Naruto Baratheon, golden haired…" Ned shut the book, eyes as wide as plates. "It can't be…"

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BAHAHAHA! IT'S ALL FALLING INTO PLACE NOW!
THE PAIN, THE BLOOD, THE HORROR IS COMING!

Ja ne!

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