I hope you like this story, there will be slight changes in some places due to the arrival of Severus in this world. Not major but still very small but crucial changes.
'Fav' and 'Follow' the story if you like it, review and let me know your opinions.
Ned Stark looked at the setting around him and groaned inwardly. The queen had somehow learnt that they had found Arya and the boy and Robert had demanded to be Arya brought infront of him immediately so that apparently a trial could be held.
Ned had been aghast but Robert had explained to him that the queen was demanding harsh punishment for Arya and execution of the butcher's boy and that in a trial he could perhaps mull the things a little. Ned knew that Robert was in no place to interfere much because as much as he wanted to let his daughter free, hitting and injuring a crown Prince demanded repurcussions and it was better to have a trial.
A trial was the best thing they could have to salvage the things a little otherwise the queen may order something dangerous and while Arya could not be harmed, the same couldn't be said about the butcher boy.
So here he was, sitting on a chair placed on the ground in the evening at Robert's right hand side as the trial started. Pycelle was there as the queen had ordered him to accompany on their journey to Winterfell. Robert's brother Renly Baratheon was present there along with Ser Barristan the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and Ilyn Payne the King's Executioner. Somehow Kevan Lannister had also arrived with them regarding some matters involving the Lannisters as he had seen him earlier with the Kingslayer, who too was present and guarding Robert. They had gathered chairs for the King as Robert had decided to conduct the trial here rather than taking it to the next castle. Around them soldiers and other people were present who were seeing to it
Jory arrived with Arya and the butcher's boy on tow along with another lad who seemed to be a year younger than Robb and Jon. The boy wore leather clothes and boots and Ned could see that he looked calm and collected even in the presence of King unlike the other two children. He was perhaps a squire or the son of a noble, he thought inwardly. He was muscular and handsome for his age with dark hair and eyes, his skin pale and his posture relaxed. Though why was he here along with them?, Ned thought worriedly.
"Joffrey state your version of events" Robert commanded immediately with a harsh voice as he took a goblet of wine presented to him by his squire Lancel Lannister, not bothering with the formalities to start a trial at least, but then again it was Robert who he was talking. The man had never been one of much plesantries or formalities.
The Crown Prince who was sitting besides his mother stood up and immediately started to explain the events. How he and Sansa were taking a walk through the banks and how when he and Sansa met Arya and the boy Mycah, both of them beat him with clubs and then set her wolf upon him.
Robert looked irritated after Joffrey told everything, he looked to Arya "now, child tell me what happened and don't lie at all. Lying to the King is a treason" he warned her seriously.
Arya nodded and started telling her version of events about how she and the butcher's boy were practising sword fighting and then the Prince arrived with Sansa and was going to hurt Mycah and how he attacked her later only to be saved by her direwolf who was lost in the woods now as she had ran away.
Ned groaned inwardly and looking at Robert who was clearly irritated "what in the seven hells should I make of this?, you girl you too were there, tell your version of events" he spoke up, as he suddenly spot Sansa who was besides the septa and Princess Myrcella.
Sansa stepped hesitantly as she stood up and spoke up "I don't know your grace, everything happened so fast that I didn't see" she said tearfully as she looked like she wanted to bolt from there.
"You rotten!" shrieked Arya as she flew to Sansa like an arrow and started pummeling her to ground "Liar, liar, liar."
"Arya stop it!" Ned shouted as Jory seperated both the sisters while Septa Mordane immediately helped Sansa to her feet. He could see the amused smile at Lord Renly's face which was beginning to break out at the entire situation. Somehow the Lord of Stormlands somehow managed not to laugh as he composed himself.
"That girl is as wild as the filthy animals of hers" Cersei Lannister spoke up with disdain from her place besides the Crown Prince and it took Ned's entire willpower to not snap at her back.
"He can testify for us, he was there too your grace" Arya suddenly spoke up as she pointed to the boy who had come with her.
"Boy, were you there?" Robert asked as he looked at the boy who had arrived with Arya and Mycah.
"I was there your grace" the boy said in a smooth and calm voice, he clearly was somekind of noble or knight, Ned thought inwardly judging by his voice and mannerisms and posture while he talked to the king.
"Liar, you weren't there. You are probably someone whom she had brought by paying some coin" The Crown Prince Joffrey spoke up spitefully from his standing place as he looked at him with hatred.
"Is it true?" Robert asked looking angrily at the boy who had spoke up first.
"No your grace, I was there on the branches of the tree as I was looking over the banks of river and Lady Arya and the boy did saw me and talked to me and then they started to search as they put it to me 'the rubies which had fallen off from Rhaegar's armour when King Robert crushed his chest with the warhammer'" the boy said calmly with a smooth voice and tone.
This immediately lightened Robert's mood and Ned was relieved slightly. The boy actually knew what to speak to Robert to please him. He could see that even Renly and Barristan as well as the Kingslayer were looking at the boy curiously and impressively. Robert face seemed to be like that he was lost in some kind of precious good memory, he looked at the boy with somekin of a calm face.
"Hmm tell your version of the events" Robert commanded as he took a sip of wine and looked at the boy who immediately nodded and started to speak off.
"The Prince arrived with his betrothed near the banks of river where Lady Arya and Mycah were playing swordfighting with wooden sticks. Lady Sansa admonished her sister and the Prince was little tipsy. He asked if the son of a butcher's boy wanted to be a knight and ordered him to pick his wooden stick while he took out his sword. Mycah hesitated and The Prince placed his sword near the cheek of the boy as his sword drew blood from the boy's cheek whose wound is still present on the boy's face. Lady Arya didn't hesitated for a second and hit the Prince's backside with the wooden stick causing the Prince to stumble. The Prince started cursing profanities and swinged the blade at Lady Arya who dodged and was finally backed to a tree trunk after some moments as the boy Mycah ran from there. Lady Arya's wolf at the moment leapt up and took the Prince's arm into her jaw causing the Prince to lose his sword which Lady Arya took and threw into the river. The Prince warned Lady Arya that his mother will hear about this and Lady Arya ran up from there on her horse. I took chase after her as she ran on her house and finally founded both of them as I explained to them that they were merely delaying the inevitable and that they should plead their case infront of the King otherwise everyone will automatically think them as the guilty ones" he finished explaining.
Ned looked around and saw many reactions on the people's faces. Robert looked like he hardly wanted to be here whereas Renly looked close to laughing. Ser Barristan was stone faced whereas the queen was glaring daggers and looked angry at the boy and Arya. Looking at the cut across the butcher boy's face, he could see that the boy events did matched up.
Pycelle spoke up at that moment from his place as he stood up "your grace, doesn't it seemed odd that only lady Stark and her friend were there to see the boy. And how can we confirm that he is not lying and is not bribed by coin" he voiced out calmly, Ned knew that Pycelle was Lannister's lackey but he hadn't known about the degree of it till now.
The queen voiced out instantly in agreement "the boy is nothing but a commoner and even then will you take his words against Joffrey."
"Silence" Robert thundered out, "you boy, you have anything to say against this accusations" he said as he took another sip of the wine.
"Aye your grace, Prince Joffrey and Lady Sansa were too busy from the start of their meeting with Lady Arya, they didn't even looked upwards to the huge tree in the bank. One looks at the ground while walking not at the sky your grace. Moreover why would I lie to you?, your grace. I am a mere common man. Lying to the king is considered a treason and I have no wish to die yet" the boy said smoothly with a calm tone as he looked at Robert.
"Your grace the boy is lying, his attire implies that he is from a rich family at least or he is some kind of knight or a squire" Grandmaester Pycelle immediately spoke up from his place.
Robert groaned and looked at the boy "speak up boy, your mannerisms and clothes don't actually make you look like a common man" he said as he took another sip of wine.
"I was born as a bastard in North your grace. I had joined the citadel and then travelled to Essos to see more of the world. I visited the free cities, slaver's bay and the coasts of Valyria though I was unsuccessful at the last while I traveled in the smoking sea. I returned back to Westeros a month ago and was going to North to live there your grace. My mannerisms could be stated due to the fact that I was in citadel and toured free cities your grace" the boy spoke up earning disbelieving looks from others.
Ned heard straight outright laughter from Renly and many of the others who were listening, the queen was smirking and having a triumphant look on her face whereas even the King looked incredibly at the boy. Ned didn't blamed him, he too was dumbfounded by the boy's words. Nobody had returned after they set their destination to Valyria, the boy surely was going to pay hardly for his boasts, he thought worriedly.
"Noone had ever returned from the smoking sea. The boy is clearly lying your grace, he might have stolen coin from some people your grace or robbed them for these clothes, he doesn't even have a link to indicate he went to citadel" Pycelle argued up gaining nods from many present there.
"Boy you know lying to your king is treason" Robert thundered up from his seat as he banged the goblet on the ground.
"I am not lying your grace. If Grandmaester Pycelle wants to see my links then he is most welcome to see them" the boy spoke up calmly not an ounce of fear on his face after the King's outburst.
He placed his hands inside his pocket and brought a long chain which Ned recognised instantly, he had seen most of his life Maester Luwin wearing them.
Pycelle looked like he had swallowed a lemon as the boy's chain was handed to Pycelle by Jory. Noone expected this development and everyone who were laughing became suddenly silent.
Pycelle inspected them, furiously checking if they were real or not. Robert looked interestingly at the entire incident, "Pycelle are the links real or not" Robert asked as he looked at Pycelle irritatedly.
"They are real your grace all fifteen, the boy had forged all of the chains offered in citadel" Pycelle spoke up with wonder in his voice as he inspected every metal. There were hushed whispers now in the camp as everyone started murmuring about the fact spoken by the Grandmaester. Even Barristan Selmy was looking incredibly at the boy with an impressed look. Ned himself was shocked at the boy's links and the number of them, the boy was around the age of Robb and yet had forged every chain in Citadel.
"What is your name boy?" Robert asked curiously his irritation gone only amusement remaining in his face as he looked at the boy.
"Severus Snow, your grace" he said politely looking at the king with a straight face.
Pycelle sucked a sharp breath at the name and Robert asked instantly looking at Pycelle with annoyance "what happened Pycelle?" he finished irritated due to Pycelle's reaction, Pycelle was not someone who gave that type of reactions normally.
"If he is Severus Snow, then your grace he is the one to forge them. He is the youngest person to forge every link in the citadel in a record time of 8 months 6 days at the age of mere 10 years. He was offered to be archmaester due to his knowledge despite his age but he travelled to the free cities as he didn't wanted to be a maester" Pycelle explained hurriedly as he looked at the boy with a little reverence in his eyes.
Ned was shocked and so was everyone forging every link at Citadel at the age of 10 was no small feat. How in the seven hells did Arya found him, he thought inwardly. Even Arya looked to be shocked by the news as she looked at the boy with stars in her eyes.
The boy spoke up "as for my proof of visiting sunset sea, may I your grace?" the boy asked looking at Robert for permission with a mischievous smile.
Robert looked at him intently for a moment but nodded with a smile of his own. The boy nodded back and whistled sightly, moments later everyone heard the sound of two horses coming towards them. The horse stopped near the Stark guards and Ned had to admit that the horses were bloody huge. The boy walked to a horse which was carrying and holding bags and rolls amongst the curious murmurings of the crowd. He took out a long roll of rag which was holding something and carried it to them, he placed the roll on the ground and started to unroll them.
Ned could see two sword hilts as the boy finally unrolled everything. One looked to be a greatsword while the other looked to be a longsword. The scabbards were simple and not much captivating to look at but it was the blade that mattered.
"I was unable to land on the coasts of Valyria but I did found something which the Lannister family members would recognise for sure. Your grace, may I present you the Lannister family's greatsword Brightroar which I found amongst the ruins of the ship carrying Tommen Lannister, I hope this certainly makes them all see the truth in my words" he said as he took the greatsword from its scabbard and thrusted it straight into the ground infront of everyone.
The murmurings grew and Ned could see the smoky rippled patterns of the blade even from a distance. The blade was as long as ice and the hilt had a green gem, he heard the loud whisperings from the Lannister men which erupted when the boy said Brightroar. He couldn't blame them, Brightroar was seemed to be lost to the Lannisters and Tywin Lannister had offered much coin to different families for any valyrian steel sword.
Kevan Lannister seemed to be eager and itching to check the sword but was holding onto his seat due to the fact that a trial was going on. The Kingslayer was looking wide-eyed at the sword same with the queen who was looking at the sword intently with a gaze of her own which held longing.
Robert got up from his seat as he walked to the boy, Barristan Selmy quickly followed him as Robert grabbed the hilt and pulled it out of the ground with a simple tug of his arm. He inspected the blade with a smirk on his face as he looked at the boy after some moments.
"You have proved your honour and the truth of your words" he said as he handed the sword to the boy who took it and placed it in scabbard quickly. The boy rolled the swords in the cloth and kept them at the ground.
"Ned, you will discipline your daughter while I will do the same for my boy" Robert spoke up calmly as he gestured another goblet of wine to be brought to his squire Lancel Lannister.
"And what of the wolf?" The Queen interjected instantly.
"Ahh, I forgot that, have Ser Ilyn see it" he said as he stood up and made his way to go.
"Robert you can't mean this" Ned protested instantly.
"Enough Ned, I will hear no more. The direwolf is a savage beast, sooner or later it will turn on your daughter. Get her a dog or something, she would be happier" he said as he made his way through the trial, deeming it finished.
"You boy, I want to hear the tales about your visit to free cities. God's know I haven't heard some good stories lately. You will sit besides me today" Robert said as he looked at the boy and walked off with Ser Barristan and Kingslayer following him.
Ned looked at the tear stricken face of Sansa and Arya who looked liked she wanted to protest.
"Lord Stark, the wolf" the hound spoke up after some minutes as Robert left and Sansa was weeping into his chest as he holded her while she cried. Arya was looking silently with a sullen and angry face.
Cersei was smirking from her place and it took Ned's all willpower not to overstep his bounds.
Suddenly Ser Kevan voice was heard "your grace, a word?" he said looking at Cersei.
The queen immediately followed her uncle to a little distance as they seemed to be arguing over something. Minutes later the queen came back like nothing had happened though her eyes held anger and Ser Kevan spoke up "Hound go with the Prince" he finished looking intently at him.
The hound nodded and walked away with Joffrey and Cersei, the latter who seemed to be fussing over Joffrey.
Ser Kevan looked at the boy who nodded and simply walked away from there beckoning Lannister men.
"Maester Severus, thank you for your help at the trial" Ned spoke up calmly with a little gratitude as he looked at the boy.
"I am not a Maester M'Lord, I had never taken my vows" he said simply as he looked at him calmly without an ounce of emotion on his face, a perfect poker face Ned thought inwardly.
"Will you accompany us to our tent?" he asked to the boy who nodded and picked the whole rag folded around the swords and whistled to the horses who simply walked with them, this was not a safe place where they could talk freely.
They reached to the tents as Ned looked at the guards around his tent while he sat at the chair with Arya and Sansa. The boy remained standing up as Jory stood at the gate of the tent. The boy Mycah had already ran towards his father with some soldiers whom Ned had ordered to keep an eye on them.
"Thank you for your help, may I call you Severus" he spoke up looking at the boy who was no older than Robb.
"Aye, It was nothing M'Lord. Though I will advise that you keep the direwolf on a close watch and make it depart by tomorrow. The queen didn't looked much happy by my terms" the boy said as he looked at Ned calmly.
"What terms?" Ned asked instantly looking at him with a stern gaze, when had the boy dealt with the queen.
"When the King left, Ser Kevan arrived towards me to check Brightroar. He wanted me to hand over the sword to him and said that they were ready to buy it, it was clear to me that they will not let Brightroar go so easily. I gave my offer to them instead saying that my only payment would be 450 thousand golden dragons and the direwolf being alive. Since the money was low, Ser Kevan immediately agreed and then had a talk with the queen about it perhaps. I had told him that I would hand over the sword tomorrow to him when he gives me money on the morrow" he explained in his smooth and calm voice.
Ned couldn't believe this, her daughter's direwolf was safe because of the boy and his clever trick. He owed two favours to the boy now in the same day.
"You said you wanted to go North and live there" Ned asked curiously, he could give him some land or some villages under his command. The boy had a nice and intelligent head on his shoulders, so he would be a good leader for them.
"Aye I do M'Lord, tomorrow I will be departing to the North morrow after dining with his grace" he said calmly looking at him.
Ned nodded and he turned to Arya and thought about something which he had been pondering on after he had heard about Arya running away.
"Arya you will tomorrow go back to North with Severus and other knights from Riverlands who had arrived today and some of the soldiers of North who will accompany you. Lady will go with you" he said firmly as he looked at his youngest daughter. Ned had hoped to be met by protests but instead Arya smiled brightly instantly "thank you, thank you" she said as she flunged herself upon him giving him a hug.
Ned ruffled her hair slightly "Sansa will go to King's Landing with me" he said earning a small smile from her eldest daughter, it was a small consolation as her direwolf gets the chance to live. His eldest daughter was betrothed to the Crown Prince and there was no way that he could allow Sansa to go to North.
"What are your specialities Severus" Ned asked as he looked at the boy who had apparently forged every chain in the citadel.
"I had forged every chain M'Lord though I am skilled in medicines and healing" he said with the usual calm tone.
Ned's eyes widened slightly and he immediately decided about a plan "you will go Winterfell with Arya and visit my son Bran, he had a bad fall and is in dire need for healing. If what you say is true and I have no doubts at your skills, then do whatever you could do for him. From now on you will be the steward of Winterfell, Vayon is in South with us so there is an urgent need of one in Winterfell and I don't think anyone would do a better job than you. If you don't want to be a steward then I can offer you some land and control over some villages" he said as he looked at the boy whose eyes widened slightly at the declaration.
"Thank you M'Lord, I will take the first offer, I will try my best to improve Winterfell and do my job" he said calmly with a bow after some moments of thinking.
"Improve Winferfell, how could you improve Winterfell" Sansa spoke up confused for the first time as she had wiped her tears completely.
"I can build glassgardens or sow improved crops which could resist cold completely. I had been collecting them during my travels as I had planned to reside in North, I could also start a breeding program for animals, the ideas are many M'Lady" he said as he explained his idea about improving Winterfell.
"You can make glass?" Ned asked sharply to the boy, it will be a godsend boon for them if they had access to more glassgardens.
"Aye M'Lord, I had perfected the method completely" he said with confidence.
Ned looked at him with a sharp look "you will go and prepare some glass gardens. It will help many people if you could do that" he said calmly.
"Aye M'Lord" the boy replied, Ned continued "I will write a letter to Robb detailing him about your post and to grant you the freedom and show you your responsibilities" he said as he looked at the boy, something in Ned's bones told him to trust the boy.
"Lord Stark I wanted to ask a favour for myself" the boy spoke up a little embarrassed.
"Speak and I will grant it if it is in my abilities" Ned spoke up with a calm voice as he looked inquiringly at the boy.
"I actually wanted your help in guarding the blades" he said with a little shame in his face.
"Blades you have more than one" he asked as he looked at the boy curiously.
The boy nodded and unrolled the rags to show the two scabbards, this time he took out the longsword and handed it to Ned with scabbard.
Ned took the scabbard and unsheathed the sword. The blade was clearly made up of valyrian steel judging by the smoky ripples on its surface. Ned understood the boy's reasoning and his demand of favor now, carrying a single blade of valyrian steel in itself without protection was asking for trouble. And the boy had two of them, and that too a longsword and greatsword.
"It was of the Dragonlord Aurion who declared himself as the Emperor of Valyria after doom. I found it in his wrecked ship during my travel to sunset sea" the boy said as he looked at Ned calmly.
Ned nodded "you can sleep in Jory's tent along with some of his men, his tent is next to mine. There will be guards there who will wake us immediately incase of any mishap or problem" he said looking at the now relieved face of the boy.
"Thank you Lord Stark" the boy said calmly as he looked at Ned.
Ned nodded and thought about something, he contemplated and finally decided to send Ice back to Robb. Robb was now the acting head of Winterfell and Ned was travelling to King's Landing, a place full of snakes and liars. Besides Ice was now Robb's to wield as Ned himself didn't knew when he will return Winterfell. His Lord father had done the same thing and left Ice in Winterfell when he rode South. He decided that he will do the same and it will be better if Ice remained with Robb, besides it was a tradition in the Starks that Ice was given to the Heir by the Lord when he deemed him ready to pass the torch. Perhaps it was time for him to do so himself, Robb was going to be Lord and Ned didn't knew if he would have any chance to return North now as he was the Hand to the King.
Perhaps sending the sword with Arya would do, besides Stark and Tully men would do everything to keep her safe.