King's Landing was a peculiar capital for sure. Ever since Ned had gotten here he hated every minute. People were insensitive, liers, and scoundrels. Practically everything going on at the moment was confusing and frustrating to the highest degrees. Not to mention his own daughters had been enraged at each other since the affair with their dire wolves. He hated how Sansa blamed him for Lady's death, but he was still happy she retained her innocence.
Arya, however, kept begging to be sent home before Eddard was able to track down Syrio Forell for her to train under, he thanked the Old Gods Myria told him of the man. He sat at the desk in his solar pouring over a financial account the council asked him to approve for the Hand's Tournament coming up later in the week. He glared at the high expenses the event would create and grimaced at the thought of the crown owning Tywin Lannister even more money than it already does. 2 million gold dragons, how could Robert let the debt to his father-in-law climb so high? Not to mention the Iron Bank, which was another million they did not the ability to pay back at the moment.
How did Jon Arryn handle this for the past 19 years?
Before he could let himself sink into further depressed thoughts a knock at his door drew his attention. Lord Stark straighten his back and called out for the person to enter. He watched as the Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish, stepped into his field of vision. The tall man claimed to be an old friend of his wife, but he held little trust for him. The look he got on his face whenever he spoke of Cat made his fists curl up, and he had to restrain himself. The South's rules were far different than the North.
"My Lord Hand, I have interesting news for you."
"Lord Baelish, what news do you speak of?" He observed as Baelish crossed the threshold of the door and walked towards his desk.
"As you know I have eyes all over this city," Eddard nodded. "And it has come to my attention that a certain couple was seen traveling into the city through the Lion's Gate a few hours ago."
The quiet wolf raised his brow, "And what does this information have to do with me?" Before the man could answer the high lord another voice cut through the air.
"Ah Baelish, no surprise to see you here." Both men turned to see the young Lady Myria Stark standing in the doorway with Jon next to her.
"Jon, Myria? Why are you two in the capital?" The Dornish woman smiled at her 'father-in-law' and held in a chuckle at the shocked look on the snake's face.
"I came to collect a few of my things I failed to bring with me, as I was unaware I was going to be married when I left," She leaned onto Jon's arm and placed a false smile onto her face. "And I begged Jon to come along to visit some of my favorite places of my childhood." Jon glanced down at the scripted words his wife spoke so well and smiled at her to throw off the other man in the room. "I was wondering if we could have a private word with Lord Stark?"
Lord Baelish broke from his shock and slyly bowed before making his leave from the room. He would have to dig for more information about the couples' sudden appearance. Once the watchful eye had left the room both young adults breathed a sigh of relief which only caused more confusion for the older man.
"What's going on? I thought I was doing the right thing leaving the both of you far away from the South." Jon patted his wife's arm before stepping towards his uncle and pulling him into a tight hug.
"We have news that was far too dangerous to send by raven, so we brought it ourselves," Eddard watched as Myria nodded her head at his nephew's words. "Far less suspicious. although Lady Stark insisted on coming along as well."
Lord Stark interlocked his fingers and let his chin rest upon the connected digits. He sighed before looking at the couple, "You brought Cat with you?"
"Gods no," Myria scoffed as he placed herself in the seat across from the Hand. "Halfway through the journey we, well I, sent her and Lord Rodrick Cassel to the Eyrie to investigate the claim my aunt Lysa sent to you. To think she wanted to seek out Lord Baelish for help? She knows nothing of the game these Southern scum adore to play."
Eddard relaxed his stance at her words, she definitely learned a few lessons while she grew up in the capital, "So the news you wished to tell?"
Jon grimaced, "Bran along with Lady Catelyn and Myria were attacked. An assassin came in the night to kill him, but he was luckily killed by Summer."
"Gods," The couple watched as the color drained from Lord Stark's face.
"But," Myria added. "None of us were harmed severely. We believed we needed to bring this to your attention in person, I figured you have already noticed some strange happenings in the capital itself."
Ned glanced at the woman, "Strange happenings?"
"Watchful eyes," she turned her head towards the door. "And not just the birds of Lord Varys. We have other news."
"What other news?"
Myria rose, walked closer to Ned, and leaned close to his ear, "Tommen heard someone speaking before Bran fell. Catelyn is quite certain someone caused Bran to fall." She furrowed her brows as she watched the father become engulfed with rage, but before he could stand from his chair she gripped his shoulder tightly. "Acting rashly is the very reason I refused to allow Catelyn to tell you herself. You are in a nest of vipers waiting to strike my Lord."
Eddard forced himself to calm, he knew she was correct. If he stormed off and started throwing accusations his head would end up on someone's platter. He glanced up at the Southern woman and noticed the gears turning through her head.
"What do you suppose we do? Take the matter to the King?"
"No," She stepped away from his desk and paced across the floor. "The dagger that was used was given to the assassin was one of the King's. Now I know for certain he had nothing to do with it, but it would be quite easy for anyone in the Keep to gain access to the blade."
"Is that why you sent Lord Baelish out, do you suspect him?" Myria shrugged her shoulders at Jon's inquiry.
"I suspect many, but Baelish would use this information to only better himself, not to achieve justice." Eddard and Jon glanced at each other while Myria racked her brain for a quick solution. The two men waited a moment until the Dornish woman turned towards them with resolve resting on her face.
"Jon and I will go meet with Varys," she held up her hand to prevent the interruption she knew was coming. "I do not trust him, but he always does what's right for the realm, which right now is the prevention of full-blown war. He will listen and help as much as he is able."
Lord Stark inclined his head in agreement, "And what will I be doing in this endeavor?"
"You, my Lord, will keep Baelish's prying eyes away from Jon and I. I do not care as much if he learns why we came, but I do not want him to know we went to Varys. That would give him leverage over us."
Eddard agreed with her plan and nodded before rising to see his family members to the door. Myria and Jon waited until the door opened to exchange farewell pleasantries with the eyes of every servant and guard placed upon the trio of highborn. The Dornish woman was then led away by her husband and gently smiled at each person they passed in the halls. Jon turned down a hall whenever his wife tapped his elbow and lightly tugged it the way they had to go until they reached the entrance to the palace gardens. Jon glanced around with wide eyes at the lush foliage, vibrant flowers, and peaceful birds floating through the air. He quickly snapped his mind back to the task at hand when Myria pulled his arm as she started to wander through the plants.
She stopped them by a small marble bench under a pavilion, and gracefully placed herself upon the stone. She waited for Jon to sit next to her and smirked at his awkward movements as he plopped next to her. She let her eyes flutter shut and took in the air when she heard light footsteps approaching the sheltered seating area.
"Lady Dayne, or should I say Stark?" She opened her eyes to a stout bald man clothed in orange silks with a twinkle in his eye. Her lips quirked at the playful tone of the observant man.
"Stark will do just fine, Varys. It is lovely to see you once more," The spider smiled at the pleasantries of the lady before taking a seat under the pavilion opposite of the pair.
"I had thought I would not be seeing you once more in our capital, after your marriage vows. But I heard you were visiting with your husband and I wished to see how you were holding up in the North."
Myria laced her fingers with Jon's, "I am doing quite well, Jon is a wonderful husband. And I came to retrieve some personal belongings I had left, and to show Jon around my childhood home." Varys nodded at the words flowing from the Southern woman's mouth.
"Well you two do have a wonderful time ahead of you, but I wonder if you are aware of the chaperone you have," Myria tensed as Varys' face took on a more serious look. "It seems Lady Stark followed you to the capital, perhaps to keep an eye on the young couple."
"Ah, I had worried this might happen," Jon quirked his brows at his wife's improvisation. "She was worried we might embarrass Lord Stark in some way and was very against our travel."
"Ah quite right, the Hand of the King has a large reputation to uphold, and I suppose Lord Baelish was sent by Lord Stark to collect his wife?"
Jon felt Myria grip his hand tighter, "I believe Lord Baelish and Lord Stark were speaking of that very topic when we arrived at the Hand's solar earlier, he did leave in a hurry." The older man slyly nodded his head at the cover-up story, he always commended the Dornish woman's skill of fixing others' mistakes. "But enough of our family issues, I wonder if you would be so kind to deliver this letter for us," His watched as she pulled a small scroll from her sleeve and passed it over to his outstretched hand, and tensed at the wax seal stamped onto the paper: a black three-headed dragon.
"This is a very dangerous thing for such a small woman to be hiding, how did you come to bear this sigil?"
Myria only fluttered her lashes as the man swiftly hid the heavy writing from watchful eyes, "Why Varys, I only use the sigil of my husband's family. You of all people should be aware of that," Varys' eyes shot to the tense form of Jon and eyed him harshly. "But this letter is from beyond the grave, a final farewell from one brother to another."
The spider relaxed at her confident tone, "So a letter from the past per se?"
"Our fathers wanted it to be delivered," She said as she gestured between herself and her husband.
Varys chuckled, "I never knew Lord Stark and Lord Dayne were close when they were younger."
"There seem to be many things you do not know, Lord Varys," Jon finally spoke quietly, but the older man caught the tinge of knowledge tucked within the words.
"You would appear to be correct my Lord, such a pity for the Master of Whispers to be out of the loop of such a story," He smiled at the pair and noticed how they seemed to feed off each others' energy. "But I will happily deliver this swiftly. The King will be happy to see it."
With his final words, he rose from his bench and began to make is way from the secluded part of the garden, but paused at the words which slipped from Jon Stark's mouth, "He's correct, the prince will be happy to see it."