Ned was more relieved than he had ever been when Tristan, Cley and Arya returned. He was less than relieved when the King summoned all of them before him in order to end the issue. They made their way to the Great Hall of Castle Darry, Tristan having chained Shield up first. Tristan told him the name he had given his wolf, and Ned smiled. It was a good name, and he hoped that the wolf would be a shield to his son. He turned to Jory and said, "make sure Sansa is in her room."
Jory grimaced, "when the Queen heard that Arya was back, but not in the hands of her men, she had Sansa brought to her."
"Damn that woman," Ned cursed.
"She can't do that," Tristan said, "Sansa has done nothing."
"She is a witness to the attack," said Jory, "or that is what the Queen said."
He, Tristan, Arya and Cley strode across the courtyard of the castle. They would have run, but they had to keep the dignity of the North. Darry, Stark and Kings men were crowded into one castle that was not too large, tensions were running hot and high and Ned was eager to get this done. But with such a crowd in the Great Hall, this would not be possible. With Robert alone, Ned would have been able to settle it amicably. Damn the Lannister woman. He had led searches himself for three days, barely sleeping. He'd been so tired that morning he could barely stand, but now his fury filled him with the energy he needed.
The tensions in the throne room were hot and heavy. Raymun Darry had fought beneath Rhaegar's banner at the trident, and he had lost his brothers on that field. Now the man who slew his prince was guesting beneath his roof. Not caring for that, Tristan rushed over to Sansa and hugged her fiercely. "Are you okay?" He asked his sister, who nodded. Ned was glad, he would have done it himself but now people would not see how much he cared for them. In the South, such knowledge was deadly. However, Tristan then released his sister and turned his attention, and anger to the Queen. "You had no right to take her from her chambers!"
"Do not speak to me that way," the Queen replied venomously, "I am your queen."
"Tristan," Ned called out. He knew Tristan would speak his mind, which could get him killed. "That's enough." Tristan bit his lip and stood down. Robert was slumped in Darry's chair, his face closed and sullen. He'd been committed to the search as well, commanding men to look for Arya with everything they had. When he'd given the order, Ned had been so reminded of the Robert who led at the Trident, bold, determined, never disheartened. Next to him were the queen and Joffrey. Cersei had her hand resting on Joff's shoulder, the boy's arm wrapped in thick silken bandages.
Robert nodded. "Let us get this done," he beckoned Arya forward. Ned nudged her and she went forward. "Tell us what happened child," Robert said, sternly, but fairly. "Tell it all and tell it true, it is a great crime to lie to a king." Robert then looked harshly at his son. "And you, stay silent, you will get your chance, until then, I don't want to hear your mewling."
Arya told the king what had happened. When she got to the part where she took Joffrey's sword and threw it in the river, Tristan sniggered. He held up his hand in apology. The only reason Ned did not berate him, was that Robert had to berate his brother. Renly got up for Robert had told him to leave. "My sincerest apologies brother," he said cheerily. "Maybe at breakfast tomorrow the Prince can regale me once more with the tale of how a girl the size of a rat was able to disarm him." Before the doors shut they heard the roar of his laughter coming from the hall outside.
When Renly Baratheon had left, Joffrey told his tale and it was very different to the one Arya had told. Ned had already heard this story the day she disappeared, he knew it to be false already.
When he had finished his tale, Tristan laughed. Ned put his head in his hand. Between the bouts of laughter, Tristan was still able to speak. "What horse-shit is that?"
"Are you questioning the tale of the crown prince?" Cersei Lannister asked, furiously.
Tristan shook his head, "I am not questioning it, I am denying it."
"Were you there?" She demanded.
"Were you?" Tristan replied then turned to Joffrey. "Next time you want to make up a tale about being attacked, you may wish to compete in a melee first so you know what happens when you get attacked."
"I was attacked," the pale crown prince insisted.
"Tristan, enough," Ned said loudly.
His son looked at him, then nodded, backing down. If Robb were here this would be much easier, Ned thought. "Robert?"
Robert had the look of a man who wanted to be anywhere other than here. "Joff's injured, to be sure, but I see no lasting harm done to the boy. He'll learn to defend himself if he knows what's good for him. And you," he turned to his wife, "will stop being so blind."
"I am the one who defends our son, and I am the blind one! I think not. The Queen stated fiercely, defending her son. "This is not the end," Cersei was fierce, like the lion of her sigil. "Whether my son was too badly injured to remember correctly or not, your sister Crown Prince," she turned to Robert and Ned held his breath, "the girl is a savage and I want her punished."
"Seven Hells!" Robert declared, "she is a child, what do you want me to do, whip her down the street? Children fight, okay, but now, it's over." Robert looked directly at Ned. "Ned, you see that your daughter is disciplined, I'll do the same with my son."
Ned nodded, relieved. "Gladly, Your Grace."
"Joff will bear these scars for the rest of his life," Cersei said much more calmly, but much more dangerously to Robert.
Robert only looked past her to Joffrey. "You let that little girl disarm you?" Joffrey looked away in shame, it was another humiliation in front of others.
Robert got up and began to leave, but Cersei Lannister was not finished yet. "What of the Direwolf?" She asked. "What of the beast that savaged your son?"
Robert let out a breath and Ned felt his heart sink, he saw Arya look frightened and Tristan's eyes become hard as steel. "I forgot about the damned wolf." He turned back to a Lannister tracker.
"We found no trace of the Wolf, your grace."
"No?" Robert asked and he shook his head. "So be it then."
"We have another wolf," Cersei said calmly, a small smile alighting her features as she looked at Ned's son. "Two in fact."
"No!" Tristan said emphatically, no hint of joy or jape in his voice.
Even Robert saw that, "we cannot kill two wolves for the crime of one."
"You cannot kill any wolf for the crime of any other!" Tristan shouted. Ned saw the look in his eyes. It was the same look that so often his brother had. Of all his children, Tristan bore the Wolfsblood. "Tristan, enough, leave. Now!" His son looked at him with eyes hard and hurt. "Your Grace," he said. "May I have a few words with my son, alone? Id also send my daughters to bed, if they are no longer needed."
The King sighed, and the Queen didn't protest, no doubt looking for a chance to see Robert alone and poison his ear. He'd have to get back quickly. "Be quick about it, I want this affair done."
Ned nodded and took Tristan's arm, leading him outside. Beckoning at the heir of Cerwyn, he called Cley to follow them. Jory and Vayon took Sansa and Arya and led them out as well. Just outside, when the doors were shut behind them, Ned turned to Tristan. "Don't say anything," he warned his son. "Now I need you three to listen very carefully. Tristan. I want you to go and release Lady and Shield. Take them with you."
"With me where, father?" He asked.
"North," Ned said. "The Queen won't rest until one of them is dead. I need time to cool the waters. Sansa, you need to make sure Lady goes with Tristan."
"But-"
"No buts," he said, placing a finger to her lips. Her eyes were quivering at the thought of being without Lady. "Right now the prince is angry, men think badly when angry. Let him recover from his bite, spend time with him, then ask him, when he's ready, if he'll permit Lady back. Until then, she is safer in the north than here."
"I... yes father," she said, eyes downcast. She was probably trying to hide tears.
"Father," Tristan's face was darkened. "I came here to fight, not to run back north because some prissy little pretty boy chose to piss off a wolf."
"Enough!" He was saying that all too much to his son. "You will do as I say, Tristan. Go and get the wolves, and leave. You have the money to make it back to Winterfell, keep the wolves there for now. You"ll get plenty of chances to fight in your life, but you're still a boy and still my son. Now do as I command and go!"
"And what if they hunt me?" Tristan asked, folding his arms over his chest.
"If the Queen's guardsmen catch you, do as you will," Ned said. Better her men than his son.
Tristan's lip curled. "I'll pray that they try then," he said. "I'll go father. I'll take them back home."
He pulled Tristan into a hug, gripping him tightly. "Good lad," he said, pulling back.
"Arya, you need to get to bed now," he said.
She nodded, but still wrapped her arms around Tristan's waist and squeezed him. "Tristan," she said, looking up at him imploringly. "Nymeria..."
"Sh," Tristan said, patting her head gently. "If I can find her, I will. I'll take her home as well."
Ned knew that Nymeria could never come south again, but the look of joy on Arya's face... Let her have her dreams, she is still a child of summer. "Thank you," she said.
"Come Sansa," Tristan said. "We'll have to move quickly. Cley, go ready the horses." Cerwyn's heir nodded, and strode from the hall. "Father, we'll need what time we can get."
He nodded. "I'll get you what I can. Just leave the castle quickly. Do not kill anyone, if you do, I won"t be able to protect you, and you will be harming the Starks."
Tristan paused "That's one thing I will never do, father."
"I've always been able to rely on you for it. Now go."
He had Jory take Arya to bed and returned to the hall.
He felt everyone's piercing gazes upon him like a thousand trained arrows ready to turn him into a pincushion. "Well Ned?" Robert asked.
"They are... have come to terms, Sansa is saying goodbye. I'll ask only for a delay, Your Grace."
Robert nodded. "Of course," he said.
"A drink, Robert, I'll need one."
Robert, to his credit, didn't crack a smile at the circumstances. "Some wine," he said. "And you, boy," he snapped at his son who flinched. "Go to your chambers, Barristan, take him. He's not to leave and no one is to enter until I have had words with him."
Joffrey shuffled off, head bowed under Barristan's escort and took him away. Ned sipped at the cup of wine he was given. He didn't feel the taste, just the knot in his stomach, if they were discovered...
But they sat in silence, Robert and he drinking as they waited for word. Eventually Jory came in. He glanced at everyone around the room. "Lord Stark, Lady Sansa is abed, all is ready."
"See to it then, wife," Robert spat with disgust. "I need to finish this cup then go and discipline Joff."
Cersei's green eyes flashed in rage at the mention of Joff's discipline, but chose to ignore it. "Ser Illyn, see to it."
The tongueless knight nodded and left the room.
With that the household dispersed. Cersei wanted them to stay and see, but Robert forbade it. "It will not happen," he said. "Everyone go and sleep, the matter is settled, we ride tomorrow, before breakfast." They'd outstayed their welcome for certain. As the men filtered away, the matter of court settled, Robert, Ned, Jory, Cersei and some men of each of theirs were soon the only ones left. Even Lord Darry left for the chambers he was sleeping in while his own were being used by Robert. He would probably burn the sheets as soon as they were gone, to try an forget that the man who had brought his house low had ever slept there. Lord Hoster sided with the rebels, Ned reminded himself. If he'd been only loyal to his liege, he would have reaped the benefits. But the Riverlands had always been divided since the days before the Conquest.
They waited. Ned had almost finished his cup by the time that Ilyn Payne returned, sword clean and no wolf pelt to cover the Queen"s bed. "Where is the pelt Ser Ilyn?" Cersei demanded. The knight opened his mouth and gargled. Meaningless to anyone else, but Ned already knew. Knew when Ilyn had entered. Cersei turned to him, a look of rage on her face. "What have you done Lord Stark? Where are the wolves?"
Ned put down his cup. "With my son," he said. "Both are on their way back north with him."
"What!" She demanded. "You had no right. Your king ordered-"
"Nothing," Ned said. "He simply gave you permission, but he didn't say I couldn't send them away."
"You-"
"They are my family. My wolves. And I am the Hand of the King"
Robert let out a bark of laughter. "He has you there, Cersei," he said, swigging down the last of his wine. "It's true, I gave no orders."
"You must send men after them!"
"No," Robert got to his feet, putting the cup down. "As I said, the matter is settled here and now, and I rather think that I've outstayed myself here. As I said earlier, we will be riding south tomorrow. All of us."
Robert marched down the hall, his Kingsguard falling in step behind him. Cersei turned to him. "I am not an enemy you want to make, Lord Stark."
"Nor am I, Your Grace."
