Their party's arrival at Maidenpool went off without a hitch, only Howland remained with them, the direwolves and Shadows left together to journey seperately, Father and Ned will know where they will be of course, but it was decided thay it is for the best that they remain hidden from anyone else. Ned will contact Shadows the first night they reached Duskendale. Howland will serve as go between the remaining time.
They reached Duskendale on the midday of thirteenth day after Ned left Eeyrie, there is already an army of about five thousand camped outside Duskendale, with banners of Crownland Houses, the Lannister Lion and The Three headed dragon of Targaryens. The Stark party unfurled their own banners. A welcoming party with Lannister and Targaryen banners arrived and Ned spied Tywin Lannister and Rhaegar, he could sense Rhaegar, the Prince seemed to have kept to his practice, two Kingsguard accompanied Rhaegar.
" Prince Rhaegar, Lord Lannister allow me to introduce my Father, Lord Paramount Rickard Stark ", Ned hailed when the parties drew near.
" Be welcome, Lord Rickard, but if I may ask, why are you here?", Tywin asked coldly.
" I have recieved word of their arrival beforehand, Lord Lannister,they are here to help, I just didn't expect them to arrive so soon, Lord Eddard, my friend, you intimated that it will take about a month for you to arrive in your letter", The Prince cut in before Ned or his Father could answer and let the question hang.
" My father received the news at Moat Cailin and decided to meet me half the way, we met up at Inn at the Crossword and have journeyed here in haste", Ned replied.
As the two talked, Lord Tywin's eyes grew colder and colder.
" Then be welcome and join our camp, we will talk more after we have washed up and eaten", Rhaegar said and wheeled his horse around and everyone else followed.
There was tension in the air and the conversation was stilted, the Starks pitched their camp near the Targaryen one. Ned and his Father would have preferred to have it farther away, but that would send the wrong message.
Tywin subtly prodded what help they could be when there are already soldiers enough streaming to the camp, but Father kept mum and Rhaegar skillfully deflected such questions. After finishing the meal, Father joined other Nobles present, but Rhaegar asked Ned join him for an inspection of the camp.
" You do have a plan right?", Rhaegar asked in low tones when they were clear of prying ears.
Ned snorted, " Of course I do, give me three days for scouting and preparations, on the fourth day the rescue operation will begin and after the midnight the King will be out of Duskendale"
" How ?", Rhaegar whispered.
" How else", Ned replied sardonically.
" I need details ", the Prince demanded.
" You will have them, there will be an encoded letter on your desk by the time we return to your tent, I will seperate from you at mine own. Do not ask questions about things that are not explained in the letter, I won't have to lie to you. On another note, you have improved, can you sense me now, do you believe? ", Ned asked
" Yes, I do, I believe, I can sense your father too ", he replied quietly with a smile.
" Good, that is good, join me for a spar in the morning tomorrow?", Ned asked
" I will, as you have noticed, I have kept one of the gifts you gave, I named it Bluefyre", Rhaegar patted the longsword at his side.
At that Ned snorted with mirth and said ," You Targaryens and your fire "
" As you Starks and your wolves, I should say", at that the looked at each other and laughed out loud.
" I will send word to you in the morning, I am glad you came, Lord Tywin has already started upping the pressure, your Father's presence here will give him pause", Rhaegar said
" I am glad to be here and he is one reason I wanted my father here too", Ned admitted.
And they made some smalltalk for awhile and went their own ways.
The encoded letter to Rhaegar outlined the plan, Rhaegar, Ned and the two Kingsguard present here will infiltrate the castle and get the King out in four days, Ned left out any mention of the Shadows, only saying that the way will be cleared for them. Addition of the Prince and Kingsguard was a late one, just before they reached Duskendale even, the King needs to believe that his son is on his side, that his son loves him so much that he risked life and limb for him. A rational King might chide a Crown Prince for risking his life but Ned is quite sure that Aerys isn't rational and even if he was, the emotions such an act from Prince will evoke in the King are worth the gamble.
A Shadow slipped into Neds tent after midnight and Ned was waiting for him, and asked, " So what have you found? "
" We found two secret ways in, one in to Duskendale and another one into Dun Fort, the one into Duskendale seems to an old summglers way into the Town, it is located not very far from here, a tunnel underneath the walls, near strip of beach suitable for landing a small boat. The other one took more time, a hidden cove, but it was blocked, we first targeted because it's back seemed deliberately covered, after clearing the rocks we found a passage, it is dark and damp and it reveals itself only when the tide withdraws, it is about half a mile long, but opens up into the lowest level of dungeons of the castle. We located the King too he is in the dungeons with four guards. We can spring him out tonight if you want".
" Continue scouting and I need the schedule for the guards assigned to the King. Continue making the soporific and no need to concentrate it, one of your brethren will infiltrate the kitchens of the town wall guards, the remaining three of you will hide yourselves in the dungeons, if the things were go to south with the rescue party consisting me, the Prince and the Kingsguard, you will openly assist, if not just keep watch over us . Tomorrow night we will rescue the King, by the morning of day after tomorrow Duskendale will be occupied by soldiers who will be smuggled through the smugglers way. Show the passage way to the Castle to Ironeyes tomorrow, I will be watching through his eyes" , Ned commanded.
" It will be done, my lord", and the Shadow slipped out as smoothly as he slipped in.
The morning came and Ned sparred with Rhaegar, after the spar they drew sat down side by side and Ned said lowly, " The timetable sped up, we can get the King out tonight"
" How? "
" There is an easy way in and it was found. There are only four guards , meet me after midnight at place specified in letter, no metal armour, leather armour, would do,it won't take two hours to get in and out"
" I will have to convince the Kingsguard into allowing me to come", Rhaegar replied.
" You must be there, Rhaegar, I assure you this operation isn't as risky as it seems and you being there is a necessity, I cannot say more", Ned pleaded
" I will be there", the Prince promised.
When the time came the Prince and the Kingsguard found Ned alongside Ironeyes.
" Follow me ", Ned said quietly. There was no more talk. Ned led them to the cove with the passage way, they remained silent throughout the walk. As the dungeons drew near Ned sensed the Shadows, it seemed Rhaegar did too as he drew a sharp breath after a minute of Ned sensing them, he looked at Ned and Ned nodded in confirmation, the passageway ended in the last dark cell in the dungeon, the cells door was open enough for a man to pass through side ways . There are only two torches one opposite the cell occupied by the King and a guard sat their in a chair dozing, the remaining three guards are at the door near entrance around a table playing cards and passing along a wineskin among themselves. The three Shadows are near the entrance near invisible outside the torches. The Kingsguards See Arthur, See Barristan and Ned nocked their bows and released their arrows at the same time, as soon as the arrows were released the Kingsguard discarded their bows and drawing their swords and ran towards the dozing guard opposite Kings cell. The arrows found their marks in the heads of guards near the door. The dozing guard came awake at the thuds of bodies dropping to the ground, but he is too late, Ser Arthur is already at his side and driving the dagger in his left hand through the guards throat. The King was still sleeping.
The Shadows silently melted into the background, the Kingsguard silently searched the bodies and found the keys to cells. As Ser Barristan was about to open the cell, Ned stopped him and indicated that Rhaegar should do it. The Kingsguard acquiesced.
Rhaegar opened the cell quietly and shook his Father awake, " Father, Father! "
" Rhaegar! what are you doing here ?", the King asked in a whisper with wide eyes.
" We have come to rescue you, we shouldn't waste the time, I will explain everything when we are safe, let us be in our way quickly", Rhaegar said with urgency.
Meanwhile the Kingsguard and Ned barricaded the door to dungeons with the table and bodies. Ned knew the Shadows will follow after them.
Once they were out of the passageway the King laughed out loud, there is an hysterical edge to it. And he hugged his son close, saying ," My boy, my brave, brave boy. You came for your father".
" Of course I did, you are my father, I love you", Rhaegar said in a whisper and returning the hug.
The King looked his son in eyes and said, " You shouldn't have taken the risk, son. What if something had gone wrong?"
" I cannot just sit outside and do nothing Father, when I learnt that there is a chance to rescue you, I had to take it", Rhaegar said insistently.
The King once again hugged his son, then turned towards the others, " Thank you, all of you, for coming for me"
" It is my duty, my King", the remaining three replied in unison, bowing.
" Your Grace, there is much more to do this night, the gates to Duskendale will be opened by some Northern Soldiers in an hour, by the time the sun rises, your army will have occupied it", Ned said.
At that the King grinned broad and wide, " Excellent"