"Prince Oberyn." Eddard spoke entering the tent, the man in question spoke to some dornish spearman. "A word in four eyes, if you will."
Oberyn looked at Eddard and nodded, with a glance the dornishman understood and left them alone. Eddard continued speaking. "We will ride ahead with a few dozen men once the Reach's army leaves Storm's End. Know that I will take the men I trust myself, for I expect things that would rather be kept secret." Oberyn's eyes narrowed, understanding what Eddard spoke of.
Oberyn pointed at the chair, wordlessly asking Eddard to sit, and spoke soon after. "I spoke to my sister, she told me things that would rather not be said to Robert. For your family's sake that is." Eddard hadn't expected that, nor did the Voice. 'If he knows then Doran knows as well, there will be problems down the line.' Ned agreed with the Voice, he would rather have kept Doran and Ellia in the dark about Lyanna's pregnancy.
"I assume that Rheagar told her, do you know who else he shared it with?" He asked calmly.
Oberyn sighed. "He wished to keep it a secret from Aerys. He doubted anyone's loyalty, perhaps even more than a sane man should." He walked to the side of the tent and reached a pitcher of wine to fill his goblet. Oberyn glanced at Ned and raised the goblet a bit askingly, to which the man in question shook his head disagreeing.
Eddard decided to ask the question that he came here for, before the Prince got too drunk. "I have a reason to suspect that Lyanna is almost alone in the tower, with only three brutes good only to handle a sword, and a young servant girl that knows nothing, but how to wash and fold clothes." Anger at Rhaegar's stupidity was clearly noticeable in Eddard's voice.
"I was to become a maester myself, Lord Stark. I forged six links and left before they could force me to forge the seventh binding me to celibacy." Oberyn cracked a smile reminiscing the older times. "One of them was made of silver, though I don't have much experience. I was more interested in poisons and what they do to the human body." Ned knew that too, but he would rather trust an experienced man.
"An experienced man that is capable of both healing and keeping a secret would be preferable." Eddard spoke firmly, well knowing that even lesser men could be angry for dismissing their abilities. "With no offence meant, Prince Oberyn."
Ned continued seeing that the Prince took no offence in his words. "I lack such a man and came here to ask for your help, perhaps there is someone you trust."
Oberyn drank from his wine and thought for a few seconds. "There is such a man in this very army, with whom I already share a secret, though nothing as great as he will have to keep soon." Eddard raised his eyebrows, curious of whom Oberyn was talking about.
"A maester in service of Lord Yronwood." He simply spoke, to which Eddard was surprised even though his face stayed stoic. 'Wasn't the previous Lord Yronwood, whatever was his name poisoned by Oberyn? It is interesting, very interesting.' The Voice spoke. though only Eddard heard it.
"If you can trust him, then he will suffice." Eddard spoke and he stood up ready to leave, but Oberyn stopped him.
"You ask much of me, Lord Stark. To march alone with men I do not know, to a possible death nonetheless. Yet, seeing as you do that for your sister's sake I will not keep you in debt. All I ask you is to sit and drink, like a friend." The Prince smirked as he poured wine into the second goblet.
'We all make sacrifices, Ned.' The Voice spoke, though it was clear to Eddard that it was about to laugh. He didn't like it, but if he was to ask Oberyn to risk his life for someone he never met…
Eddard sat down, accepted the goblet and sighed. He hoped once again that the Voice jested when it spoke about Oberyn trying to bed him.
Hundreds of colorful banners were fluttering around Storm's End. Roses of Highgarden most prominent from all of them, though Eddard could still see few Targaryen banners.
There were six of them that rode ahead of the army that was in position to give battle. Ser Kevan was to Eddard's right, with Ser Brynden to his left. Further away rode Ser Yohn, Prince Oberyn and Lord Gyles. From the enemy camp six other riders emerged to meet Ned's party.
Eddard could see the banners from far away, Tyrell, Hightower, Redwyne, Tarly, Rowan and Fossoway. 'Yet no Florent banners.' Voice added.
They met roughly in the middle of the field surrounded on two sides by their hosts. "Lord Stark." Mace Tyrell was the first to speak, following him other lords spoke their greetings, thankfully there were only twelve of them in total.
"It seems the news of Robert's victory spoke the truth. What happened to the Royal family?" The Lord of Highgarden spoke before any other lord could. Ned took it upon himself to answer.
"Aerys wanted to burn whole King's Landing with wildfire, Ser Jaime stopped the plot, slaying him." Snorts could be heard from the Reach group.
"Convenient lie, how much did Tywin pay to cover the Kingslayer's deed?" Lord of Hightower spoke with a frown on his face. 'A loyal Targaryen supporter.' Voice spoke in Ned's mind.
It was Oberyn who responded to the man's claims. "It is the truth, I have seen the wildfire jars myself, hundreds alone were under Sept of Baelor." Shocked faces met Oberyn's words.
"The most devoted themselves claimed Ser Jaime to be the city's saviour, The High Septon himself led the prayer to beg the gods for forgiving Ser Jaime's lesser oath breaking." Ser Kevan added.
"But to try to burn the god's sept…" Eddard barely heard a murmur from the Reach group though he couldn't place who spoke it.
"I do not doubt that Lord Tywin has spent a fair share of gold to make sure that truth spreads quickly. I would expect a new song to be sung from Dorne to the Wall soon." Eddard japed, while he worried that Voice's bad influence was spreading to him. 'That was far from funny, and certainly not something that I myself would say.' The Voice added.
Few of the lords chuckled at his jape, mostly from behind Eddard. "Prince Rhaegar has fought and perished at the Battle of the Trident, King Robert himself has defeated him in a single combat." Eddard continued, though no doubt all of them already knew that.
"And what of the Rheagar's children? What of the Royal Prince?" The Lord of Hightower asked.
Eddard thought that it was best for him to answer. "The sack happened, Aegon has perished, but Princess Ellia and Princess Rhaenerys still live." Oberyn nodded towards the Reach lords as if to assure them that Eddard spoke truth.
"Child slayers!" One of the Reach lords accused. Eddard spoke quickly before more voices could join in. "And how many children died inside Storm's End? How many innocent people starved to death while you feasted outside? How many were put to the sword while you marched through the Stormlands?" He accused them. 'You tell them Ned!' Echoed throught Eddard's mind which he easily ignored.
There was no answer, though Eddard doubted that any of these Lords even cared for the common people that died.
"The man that has slain Aegon has been punished, his body is long since rotting in the ground. My own men made sure of that." Ned refused to call that man by a name.
"King Robert is generous." Eddard spoke once again, while reaching for a letter located in his pocket. He gave it to Mace Tyrell who read it outloud for all to hear.
Half of it were titles, Eddard knew beforehand. Another half were assurances that no ill will befall the Reach lords. He was fine with it, too many men died to continue this war.
"King Robert is generous indeed." Mace Tyrell spoke as he finished reading the letter, unseen tension disappeared with Mace's words. He called Robert a King.
"His Grace asks every Reach lord of note to swear to him in person at King's Landing." Eddard spoke, frowning internally at his own words.
The reacher lords were quick to assure Eddard that they would do as commanded, soon after their host started marching back to Reach under the command of some younger brother of a more prominent lord, Eddard cared not which exactly.
'Tomorrow we leave for Tower of Joy.' The Voice stated, making Eddard's heart beat faster in anticipation of meeting his sister.
Few hours later the Reach left the sight of Storm's End to which the gates opened. Eddard and the few dozen men rode to meet Stannis. They exchanged a few words, though Ned knew that Stannis would rather be left alone so they haven't spoken much. The next day the host was sent back north under Ser Brynden, except for Dornish who marched further south and Stormlanders who returned to their own keeps.
Ned, Oberyn, Howland, maester Lewis and twenty six strong looking northmen armed with crossbows, swords and fine armour rode ahead, leaving the Dornish host behind. As speed was of the most import, every man had two horses to ride on. Tower of Joy, located within Princess Pass was their target.