I do not own Game of Thrones


The Winter Court

"Bring the prisoners forward."

The prisoners in chains were Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Ser Gerold Hightower, Prince Lewyn Martell and Ser Arthur Dayne. There was surprise addition of Lyanna Stark standing on the side of the prisoners though she was not in chains at least.

Eddard Stark had made it to the tower of joy with a dozen men after the rebellion ended in just six months. They were prepared to lose men against such great fighters but surprisingly Rhaegar immediately ordered a surrender. His condition was only the protection of the life growing inside Lyanna. In turn he accepted that his life as well as that of his Kingsguard was forfeited to Northern justice. Lyanna was still in her first trimester so travelling was not a problem. The fact that she was not kidnapped was a shock to Ned but not too big one as he had some clues from his dreams.

"Lord Stark, I would like to take the black." Arthur spoke first.

As Rhaegar's long time friend, he had been a part of the whole incident. But he was also friends with Elia and it had made him despise the Prince's thoughtless actions. As Ashara's brother, he kept a close eye on her acquaintances so he was most shocked by the change in Ned and felt guilty for it.

Ned quietly frowned for a while before speaking "Not enough. You will take the black as the sword of the morning. While you still live, Dawn won't return home."

Then he looked at the other two kingsguard.

"As the enablers of Aerys Targaryen, you share the sins of his actions more than anyone else. Do you have anything to say?"

"I demand trial by combat." Gerold proudly said.

Lewyn was more observant and realized how stupid it would be provoke the lord of Winterfell. "I'll accept my mistakes and their punishment."

Now a crazed glint finally entered Ned's eyes.

"Price Lewyn will be hanged. Its not enough to match Brandon's pain but I'll call it even with that. My champion for Ser Gerold will be ice. He will be dropped in the frozen lake with only his head outside to breathe. If all the ice melts before he freezes then its his victory."


Rhaegar looked at Ned in disappointment. "Do you know that you are emulating my father? You've become the same as your enemy."

"Of course not! I did it second so its alright. I would be a worse criminal to my family if I didn't take an eye for an eye."

"Do as you please. Kill me too if you will. Only thing that matters is that my daughter Visenya must grow up." Ned had to admit that Rhaegar was not scared of death.

"I told you that I went willingly Ned. There is no reason to punish anyone, least of all my Prince." Lyanna said. Ned quietly kept staring at her.

"Can you at least promise me to protect my child when its born?" Hall grew quieter but Lyanna kept speaking. She was used to getting her way, specially with her quiet brother.

"He is the rightful king of Westeros. I don't know what you were thinking putting a Lannister on the throne." There was still no reaction from Ned.

"You are not thinking of advancing your family by connecting with them, are you? You won't USURP your nephew, will you?" She had finally said the wrong thing. The word usurp brought him out of his focus and he started laughing. Everyone held their breaths as his laughter kept echoing in the hall for a while.


"Father told us a story about two brothers. One was a farmer while the other was a fisherman. The farmer consistently worked hard on the fields although snow made it a lot more difficult to manage. The fisherman on the other hand led a lot more adventurous life of fishing from the holes of the frozen lake nearby. That was not to say that fisherman was a slacker considering the risking of life in that profession evened things out.

Most of the time fishing failed and they both had to settle for eating grain. They both needed energy so the food was shared equally. Whenever fish was caught though they would have a luxurious feast. Naturally the one who caught it had a larger share. It may have been a bit unfair but farmer felt bad about complaining when the fish was caught by putting his brother's life on the line. There was constant risk of ice cracking that had to be thought of. Its not like farmer wanted to exchange jobs with his brother.

One day the fisherman saw a bagful of gold in the lake below a layer of ice. He immediately set about retrieving it, not even telling his brother about his suicidal endeavor. Perhaps he did not want to share it and did not really trust his brother either. Naturally the gold was heavy so the ice broke while lifting the bag and the fisherman started drowning. There was no telling if he could swim or not as the result would be the same if he didn't let go of the bag.

The farmer was passing by and saw his brother drowning in freezing cold water. Without caring about his own life or well being, he jumped into that hole in ice to save his brother. No matter his grievances, they were still blood after all. He grabbed his brother and freed the bag of gold which sunk further in to the depths of the lake, out of reach. He did not have time to think but he instinctively knew that resurfacing above the surface with this bag weighing him down was impossible.

So what do you think the fisherman brother's response was? There are three options that determine the character of a person.

1) If fisherman thanked the farmer, he is a normal decent person.

2) If fisherman acknowledged a life debt and repaid it later, then he is an honorable person.

3) If fisherman laments the loss of gold and curses farmer for not being able to retrieve it, then he is an ungrateful and emotionally unstable person.

This is as far as the story went but even father could never imagine that there would be a fourth type of person, let alone naive little me. This is beyond the limits of choices a human can make.

4) The fisherman blames his brother the farmer for being a thief and plotting to salvage the gold in summer. He also blames his brother for pushing him in the lake as a way of attempted murder. All of this after his brother saved his life.

You seem to have forgotten that family is a two-way relationship. I thought that avoiding responsibility and ignoring the deaths of father and brother would be the limit of your selfishness. Your selfishness and ungratefulness has finally reached a point where I can't even measure it.

The very act of asking me for promise to protect my blood is an insult to me. Its my decision and you have no right to ask anything of me, least of all to sit your child on the throne. It would still be fine if it was desperation of a dying mother. If only I knew for certain that your child will be like you! I would kill you here and now, even if it meant becoming kinslayer and child killer. I am done dealing with you.

If your child is a girl like your Prince predicted, you two can live as a married couple exiled in the neck at Greywater Watch. If its a boy, Lyanna will be executed while Rhaegar will lose all five of his limbs, that is four and castration."

"Then we get to live." Rhaegar said confidently. He wasn't effected by the story at all, but Lyanna had tears in her eyes. Did her brother really hate her that much because of her selfishness?