Eddard

The return to Kings Landing was near the last thing he wished for at the moment. Ned would rather be sailing north with Howland and Lyanna's body to return home and settle her in the crypts below along with the bones of his father and brother once they are retrieved.

But he gave his word to Robert to return to the capital. As well as the fact that even if he could return North, Alys could not do so yet. A fact that he disliked even more than his own requirements to stay in the city. He wanted her, and Jon, in the North, far from any dangers that could still lurk in the south.

But it was unlikely even if she hadn't given her word to the Martells to accompany them that Robert would allow her to leave without giving some sort of answer for her actions.

Ned would be lying if he said he wasn't worried over how Robert's temper was. He knew his friend to be one quick to anger, fitting for a house whose words were 'ours is the fury'. But he also trusted Jon Arryn to have worked to lessen the fury, as he was always skilled at calming the Storm Lord who'd been his ward.

He makes his way in the direction of the small council chambers, nerves low in his stomach that he tries to pay no mind to as he walks through the doors. As his gaze falls to Robert he worries of the inevitable blow up, prepares himself to talk his friend down and keep Alys from too much of his ire.

But it doesn't happen.

Instead Roberts gaze turns to him and it's filled with such grief as the taller and broader man stands and makes his way over to Ned, grabbing him and embracing him tight.

"If I could kill the bloody bastard again," Robert growls over Ned's shoulder, "I would do it a thousand times to bring her back." He pulls away, his sorrowful blue eyes looking over Ned.

He'd written of Lyanna's death from Sunspear, passed it as some illness similar to that of the one that had killed their mother many years ago. It had been Alys's suggestion, along with the fact that he would claim he found Lyanna on his own before finding Alys with Jon in Sunspear. He still worried over whether it was the best of choices to let her claim him, but he'd written a bit of it in his letter to Jon Arryn and thus there was no way to go but forward from here.

"Ned," Jon Arryn states, pulling his attention from Robert who seems to sober some from his grief, though not entirely the echo of it still lingering in his gaze.

"I'm having her sent north, with my father and brother's bones." He states, ignoring Roberts frown. He wonders if Robert wanted her buried here, but Ned wouldn't have that. His sister would return home, where she belongs, she's been south too long. "I'll stay, until your throne is secure Robert," he looks to him, "then I'll return home as well."

"And Alys?"

"She's here at yours and the Martell's request if I recall," Doran had informed Ned that in his writings back and forth with Jon that Alys's presence, and testimony, was required. "She and her son."

"Son?" Robert blinked, and Ned was slightly surprised that Jon hadn't told Robert of it.

"She discovered a pregnancy a few months before the seige, hid it while here out of fear," it was drilled into his mind now, and near the same as what he'd written to Jon. "The only person she told was Elia Martell."

"And then she helped the bloody princess steal her babies away." Robert states, bitterness still to his tone but he seemed to be cooled with a look from Jon.

"My sister has always been compassionate, and not one to leave someone to suffer." Ned states, his own tone edged sharp. He loved Robert, he did, but he would not have Alys in any danger of his friends temper. "Let alone someone she'd grown fond of, and she apparently became close with Elia and her children. She feared for them." He frowns, but forces himself to add, "and her pregnancy made her anxious, worried of what people might assume."

"What people might assume?" Robert questions.

"Has she told you the father?" Jon Arryn asks over Robert.

Ned shakes his head, "only enough to know that he will not be present. I assumed likely a guard… with the stress I already saw upon her, and the grief of Lyanna…" he sees Robert's frown sadden further. "I did not wish to press her upon it."

"I held some worries," Jon Arryn states, eyeing Ned carefully in the way that he knew was searching for truth. "That the mad king perhaps…"

"No," Ned says it firmly, and with a twinge of true anger beneath it. He knew rumors would swirl about Alys and Jon, but he refused to let that one even breathe a single breath if he could help it. "She told me that much. She avoided Aerys for fear of burning, and apparently rarely saw him let alone spoke with him." He feels far too tense but pushes forward, "if you have worries of that nature…"

"I don't." Jon states, and Ned feels some tension leave his chest. "I've inquired on the state of things during the last year. All I've heard of your sister lines up with that. The king paid her no mind, and thus I don't believe we have any worry in that regard for your nephew."

"Good." Ned states, feeling entirely ready to move from this discussion. He motions to the table before sitting himself, already immeasurably tired from travel and questions and the thought of planning what's next for this kingdom. "What sort of business do we have to discuss that is not my sister or her child."

Jon nods and motions for Robert to sit though he seems torn between whatever anger still lies towards Alys's actions and the grief that Lyanna's death has caused. "I've already arranged most of our terms of peace with the Martells in our letters the last month, but there are still fine details to iron out in regards to Rhaenys."

"And a dragon spawn to confirm is dead." Robert spits out bitterly.

Jon frowns but does not comment, choosing instead to direct their discussion in another direction. "We also have to discuss marriage."

"I don't wish to marry," Robert states succinctly. "Not to anyone but Lyanna, and she's gone."

Jon's sharp gaze turns to his former ward, and Ned can recognize the firmness to it. He looks over Jon further and notices with little surprise in truth that he holds the chain of hands about his neck. Ned had figured that would be the case, but he feels better knowing for sure. "A marriage will help secure the throne for you, not to mention settle the need for heirs."

Robert grumbles, but says nothing, simply frowning further at the table. It was clear to Ned that this was a discussion the two had had before.

Jon continues, "Tywin Lannister has been offering his daughter since the siege. And now, with no other betrothal as an excuse, it would be smart to accept. It would tie him further to your reign, ridding us of any risk of him turning to the Targaryens on Dragonstone."

Now Ned was the one frowning, still easily recalling the lion flags flying when he'd ridden up to the Red Keep during the sack. Still remembers Jaime Lannister sat upon the throne itself like he belonged. Laughing as he stepped away.

"And what of his son?" Ned asks not masking the ire of his voice.

"That is another matter of business," Jon says, his gaze turning to Ned now, appraising his mood. "the matters of the small council as well. Maester Pycelle is likely to stay on, and Lord Varys has already offered his services as spymaster. And then the decisions for what to do with the remaining Kingsguard."

"You are not thinking of keeping Jaime Lannister on." Ned asks, knowing clearly that his voice is hard like ice. "Robert you'd be a fool to trust a man who put his sword through his last king."

Robert though laughs shortly, "for once you seem to agree with Lord Twyin. Perhaps not the reasoning."

Ned frowns even further before Jon speaks, "that is the other thing Lord Tywin has been pushing for since the seige. But we have to tread it carefully, the precedent it would set could be a dangerous one."

"As could trusting Jaime to not kill Robert in his sleep." Ned replies cooly.

"We have time to discuss our options." Jon states, looking over Ned once more. "Thus we can discuss them later. For now you should find some rest. Your sister will be summoned later to give her account of her actions, until then get some sleep or at least some food."

Ned nods, pushing himself up from the chair and moving for the door.

Jaime

Alys Stark has returned to Kings Landing.

At least that was one of many whisperings going about the Red Keep. It goes to show that Jaime has truly devolved since the seige that he listens to the titterings of court with at least minimal interest.

Other words floating about the various social circles— none of which he truly is part of, more just passing by and happening to overhear— included Ned Stark returning as well. All of them seemingly alongside Doran and Oberyn Martell and the Princess Elia with her girl Rhaenys, and a retinue of Dornish guards, traveling to the capital to finish off whatever Jon Arryn and the Prince of Dorne had been writing back and forth about the month or so since it was first known that Elia had arrived to her family.

Much talk was also had about the supposed fate of the poor babe Aegon who had apparently perished on their journey southwards to Dorne. A pity, for a child so young, but fruitful it seems for Robert's temper. He had enough worrying over the pregnant queen on Dragonstone with the last prince of House Targaryen. Though word was also that Stannis Baratheon was close to sieging the island and likely then that would be yet another thing off the new King's plate to worry about.

Jaime, in truth, didn't care much about any of that. He didn't care that Ned Stark was returning to likely look his way with dislike and judgement. And while he'd thought Elia a kind woman and the princess Rhaenys sweet, he'd never been as close to them as Alys.

No, it was Alys returning that really gathered his attention. Not that he really let that be known, he went about his days as usual just with a bit of relief at the fact that she was back and an eye out for her.

Then of course he heard the most interesting bit about her return.

She returned with a child.

It baffled him and he swore he'd had to have heard it wrong when he passed by the group of Stormland ladies who'd been talking of it.

But then he heard the Tyrell bunch, now returned alongside their lord husbands following their turning after the seige of Storms End was lifted, also discussing that very topic. Lady Alerie herself apparently having seen Lady Alys with the child when she went to greet her friend.

It soured something low in Jaime's belly, though he was unsure whether that was the gossiping hens themselves or the topic of it all.

He only made it a few hours into knowing of her return before he actively began to seek her out.

He supposes it only makes sense that the place he finds her is before the large oak heart-tree of the Godswood.

A few moments pass where he lets himself just watch her. Looking over her he finds that from the few months she was away she looks much the same and yet also quite different. Her skin holds just the slightest more of a tan from the Dornish sun, and her hair is a bit longer as well, carefully braided in the simple style Jaime recalls. Her dress is lighter though, more similar to that of Princess Elia's style than the modest version style of the Crownlands that Alys had leant into during her time here.

Finally, after a mere second more of enjoying the fact that she's here (rumored child or not) he speaks the first thing that came to mind (that was not said rumored child). "I heard your sister passed." He offers to her kneeling form, and with his voice her head snaps up from it's bowed position in prayer and turns towards him.

"Jaime…" She greets and he feels a strange rush of relief at the softness of her eyes and the familiarity that her gaze looks upon him with. And yet she doesn't rush forward to hug him. A thing, if he were honest, he would have expected after this much awaited reunion.

A thing he realizes with just the smallest bit of surprise that he feels great disappointment in not receiving.

A part of his mind recalls the last bit of touch he had received from her, a hand soft and comforting against his cheek while he gripped her arms. Panic had been welled deep in his core at the sight of her, the knowledge that if he'd failed only hours before she would have gone up in flame like the rest of them, but there she'd been right before him. Safe.

She was once again before him. Safe, he reminded himself still restless most nights to dreams of fire and blood and mad men screaming to 'burn them all'.

He wishes, almost desperately, that she'd comfort him now in some way.

But he doesn't show that, or at least he focuses upon not showing that. Instead smiling in greeting himself before saying somberly, "I am sorry for your loss."

She looks down to her skirts, grief clear to her eyes, and nods, "thank you." Then her eyes flick over to the side, and he follows the gaze to a small bundle of blankets upon the bench, and within them a calmly sleeping babe who seems to have no care for the world in his slumber.

He eyes it further, something that Alys seems to note well enough as she moves and scoops the bundle up into her arm. He supposes, somewhere in the back of his mind, that he should tread carefully with this topic.

But, as his sister always lovingly reminded him, he never did have much sense when it came to being careful.

"Ah yes," he nods towards the bundle now in her arms, "I did overhear that you had a child in your time away." He steps closer, "bit of a surprise. I am shocked alone that I hadn't noticed, I mean… considering." He leaves it at that, and figures once again that he should have been more careful as he watches Alys's face slip into something more guarded than he was used to seeing directed towards him.

"I hid it well then," is her cool reply. "I was scared of what might happen, unwed ladies are prone to some scorn a lot of the time."

He frowns, and glances about the heart-tree. It's not the most well-trafficked area. But that doesn't mean there aren't eyes and ears moseying about the bushes for a certain spider that Jaime is sure is still well informed despite his restricted status in the Keep. "Well," Jaime says carefully, "I hope you don't expect me to scorn you." He offers a smile, hoping to lower at least some of her defense towards him, "we can be partners in that at least. A mother of a bastard, and the Kingslayer."

"Kingslayer?" Alys questions, and he's happy to see the bit of worry replace her icy defense as she looks him over in her overly familiar way of searching out his feelings. He recalls a time where that annoyed him, how odd that it doesn't now.

It's likely he'd just rather that than her being on guard about him.

"Yes, rather loving term coined by own new king, long may he reign and all that." Jaime waves a hand, because no matter how he enjoys her worry and care he still is a Lannister and his father is all the closer now so it would not do to show signs of weakness. At least not where ears and eyes can see. "Enough on that, may I escort you back to your room?"

She eyes him and he feels she's seen entirely through his reasoning. Privacy, so he can question in full about the babe in her arms. But thankfully she nods, "Is it odd that I asked to be in the Maiden Vault?" she inquires once they start moving. "A different room, one with a nursery, but still."

"I suppose there is comfort in familiarity." He shrugs, "I hear though that you and the Martells have taken a whole wing of the Vault."

"Doran and Oberyn are taking Elia and Rhaenys's safety as paramount." Alys states, "and I don't mind being near them, it makes it easier to see them all."

"Grown close to the whole of Dorne in your journey, have you?" She laughs, and he can't help the small twist upwards of his lips at the sound.

"They've all been very kind," she responds as cordially as she's always been. She shifts the bundle in her arms, bouncing a bit as he can hear it stirring. She looks down too, at the babes face, "considering…"

Jaime looks at it as well, it's eyes peeking open and blinking as though groggy. "It has your eyes." He looks into the babes eyes, he supposes then that at least narrows his ideas about it all down a bit.

Alys glances sideways at him a second before shaking her head, "he's a baby, not an it. And his name is Jon."

"Jon?" Jaime inquires. "Odd choice."

She shakes her head further, "it's a perfectly common name."

"It just seems an odd choice for you," she's frowning in full now. A slight furrow to her brow like she's annoyed.

She doesn't even reply to that. Leaving them to walk in the quiet for the rest of the way. Jaime supposes it gives him time to think on the baby. Occasionally eyeing it as they walk through the Godswood into the Red Keep proper.

It's clearly related to Alys. The eyes being a clear enough giveaway at that, as they're near identical grey orbs to her own.

That knocks away any worry of it being Elia's secret third child. There was never any worry that it was Aegon hidden away. For one the babes looked nothing alike, but add the fact that Aegon was a year and a half when he passed and then it's quite clear this child is not a hidden Targaryen. Cemented further by his lack of resemblance to the Dornish Princess, as well as the well known knowledge that pregnancy was never easy for Elia and thus hiding it would have been a near impossibility, as well as incredibly likely to result in her death.

So the babe was a Stark. Or at least, of Stark blood.

He eyes it further as they enter the room and she settles him carefully into a cradle nearby her own bed. She lingers there though, her gaze gentle upon the babe she's claimed as son.

Jaime glances sparingly to the closed door and sighs, "he's not yours." He doesn't say it as a question, because he knows it's not. It would be impossible for him not to, the amount of time and the locale of much of it that he spent with her.

If she'd stricken up with a paramour in her time here as a hostage he's certain he'd have known. He knows, without a doubt, that the only man to share her bed in the months where this pregnancy was likely to have occurred is him.

And he also knows without a doubt that the child in that cradle is not his.

Alys looks to him after he speaks. The sharp guard to her eyes back in full as she frowns his way. "Jaime," her voice is warning. Like Cersei's had gotten that night back before all of this, where in contrast to her telling him to join the kingsguard he'd asked her to run off to Essos with him.

"I'm simply stating a fact." He continues stepping closer and peering down, "and it certainly begs the question of who exactly he is the son of."

"Me." Alys states, voice hard like stone. "He's my son, and that's all that matters."

"Except we both know that I was the only one in your bed all those months," he points out, "and we certainly did not engage in the fun bit of company that would result in such a creation."

There's a flicker of her eyes softening before they harden even further, she turns to face him entirely now and he's alert to the hard set of her shoulders and the icy look to the grey of her eyes. "Whatever you think you know, or suspect, you don't. So please, for me, just don't make anything out of this." She says, her eyes flickering over his in apparent search for understanding. "Jon is my son, he'll be my son til my last days. I need you to leave whatever this questioning is behind and respect that." Then, another flicker of softness, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

But Jaime just can't help his own furrowing brows and frown, "I am asking you, not going about court gossiping that you're lying about it all." He crosses his arms and watches her gaze look down away from him.

"He's mine," she states it, firm and asserting. "That's all that matters." Her eyes return to his and yet he still finds that he can't leave that be.

"Well then," he inquires, "who is the father?"

"The father doesn't matter," she crosses her own arms defensively.

But before Jaime can press further on it the door opens and they both turn to see Ned Stark enter before he stops short looking between the two of them.

Jaime doesn't miss the distrust to Ned's gaze when it falls on him, nor the way his eyes flicker down to the cradle and it feels a bit like things shift a bit into place as Jaime looks back to Alys with raised brows. "Truly?"

"Jaime," her voice holds even more edge to it, sharp like a blade. "I've told you all that matters, now please, leave it."

His eyes narrow towards her before he nods just the slightest tilt of his head. "For now." He looks back to Lord Eddard who is glaring his direction with fierce suspicion. "I'll leave you." He bows just the slightest bit before heading to leave.

He's certain to meet Ned Starks gaze with equal vitriol as he passes by and heads out into the Red Keep to find distraction from the swirl of distaste inside him at it all.

Alys

"Alys." Ned's voice is full of warning and her gaze turns from where she'd watched after Jaime. Her brother is staring at her with worry and disdain and she sighs.

"He walked me back from the Godswood," she dismisses Ned's worries, turning instead to look again at Jon. Finding just a bit of comfort at just the sight of him, though it mingles unfavorably with her previous discussion with Jaime.

She should have known he'd not leave it be.

No, perhaps she did know. She just had been choosing to ignore it. Ignoring that he was the biggest risk to her secrets about Jon.

She'd been trying very hard to ignore the swirling of thoughts that threatened in her mind. She'd accepted her path with Jon, but it still did nothing to quell the fact that since Elia had mentioned the possibility of it her mind had found revelation in the fact that her heart cared quite a bit for Jaime.

More so than she'd ever previously realized.

Cemented even further with how her heart had seemed to nearly skip when he'd spoken first and she saw him finally after so long.

She'd held herself back for fear of so many differing things. And now her worry felt even stronger, even as her feelings still pushed for more attention.

Especially with how tired he looked, and the news of his new 'title'. It made her regret once more not speaking to him before her departure. For not giving him some bit of assurance before leaving her to deal with the fallout alone.

"I don't like it." Ned's voice pulls her back to his presence as he steps up fully beside her. His own gaze upon her rather than Jon. And she can see it, the overwhelming look of protectiveness towards her and she can only offer a small smile.

"Jaime is my friend," she fiddles a bit with the edge of her sleeves. "He was here for me for so long, I can not just forget that."

"He's not an honorable man," Ned states with sure certainty behind his voice that makes Alys's lips fall to a frown. "Killing the man he swore to protect."

"Killing the man who burnt our father and killed our brother." She responds with hard clarity. "And who, as I said, was there for me when I was so alone."

It seems that was the wrong thing to say as Ned's frown deepens, "even more reason you should hold a wide berth of him." Alys frowns, less because of Ned's words and more because she understands perfectly the reasoning behind them. "Even more reason that as soon as everything with the Martells is done you should head north, take Jon out of the scrutiny of the south."

Alys shakes her head, "I'm not leaving you to fend for yourself at court." She pulls meticulously at her sleeves before looking to Ned further, "I'll return North when you do. And I'll handle any rumors that come Jon or I's way." She drops her sleeves and reaches to press a hand to Ned's arm, "remember, I've been here in the south navigating it's court for a while. I can handle it, likely better than you."

Ned just frowns though, before giving a reluctant nod. He glances to Jon and sighs, "I'll fetch Wylla to watch him while we go meet with Robert."

Alys nods as he gives one last look to Jon before heading along to the door that leads to the nursery. She turns her own attention to Jon even while her mind wanders off back to Jaime, hoping she is not wrong in trusting that he'll leave whatever thoughts he has on Jon to his own mind.

And hoping, just a little, that it won't strain them further than this discussion already has.

Thank you so much for reading!

Yay Jaime and Alys are reunited (even if it wasn't exactly what Jaime had expected/wanted)

Also I hope that how I did Robert makes sense. He's angry at Alys but a) Jon Arryn's been talking him down a lot, plus b) his anger is very much tempered by his grief surrounding Lyanna (similar a bit to as how in canon he and Ned reconcile through shared grief)

Anyhow, thank you all as always for any and all reviews! They always make my day and I'll probably always be grateful for them!