Rhaegar
277 A.C Duskendale
Clad in black armor with an army at his back, Rhaegar led the royal up the Rosby Road on horseback. Accompanying him all six Kingsguard guarded his flanks and rear. Ser Jonothor Darry carried the standard the Targaryen three headed red dragon on a black field. It took a good half a fortnight to gather the army at Kings Landing's Gates, another to march them to Duskendale. All together the Crownland banners amassed some four thousand men, of those six-hundred-fifty mounted knights and mounted men-at-arms. The rest, footmen of all types from the Stokeworths six hundred men-at-arms were sent, led by some cousin to Lord Gyle Stokeworth. From Sharp Point circumventing Duskendale, House Bar Emmon sent three hundred spearmen, and a hundred knights, a mix of landed and hedge knights.
House Blount sent mostly a knight retinue of fifty, most hedge knights. Accompanying the Blount knights were a hundred levies of poor peasants armed with scythes and hoes. Rhaegar quickly dismissed them to their homes sending a knight, Ser Boros Blount, if he remembered correctly, to return with his levies. House Buckwell sent eight-hundred spearmen and a hundred knights. Most impressively and expected, House Velaryon sailed over six hundred men-at-arms, and four hundred mounted men, and a score of knights in their ranks. The final thousand were provided by a few combined arms from minor houses.
The march from the city to Duskendale had been a swift enough affair for an army that size. The outlying villages who saw them often had young men try to join, seeking glory and coin. One bold boy with missing teeth had asked Rhaegar himself to be his squire. Though the boy admitted he could not read or write. He didn't even know who Rhaegar was he simply said he looked the 'lordly type' to Robert's amused chortle.
Nearing the Lands belonging to House Darklyn the villages laid mostly empty, except the women and children for the men had been rounded up as levies to man Duskendale's walls. The women that Rhaegar personally spoke to blamed Lord Deny's Myrish wife. They all had some gossip or other that it was her that whispered poison into their Lord's ear. A few fishermen wives said she casted spells from her foreign god to get Lord Denys to marry her, and forced their husbands to forget their vows to them, taking their husbands to the taverns at Duskendale and the whore houses to spend their pennies on. Rhaegar was sure the last one was just bitterness on their part rather than some Myrish witchcraft.
"She cast her magic in her foreign tongue m'lord!" Some old women shrieked at his men. They clutched wooden carvings of the seven pointed star warning Rhaegar's men to beware her magic, with all the talk of horrid witchcraft and the blame for their Lord turning traitor on the woman. Many of his men whispered she should be tried a heretic and have her head cut off to appease the seven. Lord Tywin quickly ended such talk reminding the men to not mind the ramblings of peasants and scorned fishwives. Their march finally ended when Duskendale's walls came in sight, stepping off the road Rhaegar instructed Ser Gerold to set camp. The remaining Kingsguard rode beside him, along with Robert and Ned. Not having armor forged for them, they wore borrowed breastplates from the armory in the Red keep. The two wore a gambeson underneath with a mail shirt all encased within their breastplate. The gambeson coat went to about their knees protecting to their thighs. The two forwent grieves for their black riding boots, similarly they wore no bracers but kept their riding gloves. Both had shields slung across their back with Rhaegar's standard on them, and their helms hung on their horse seat. Smooth round helms with a 'T' visor.
Lord Tywin broke from the army, he rode his horse to Rhaegar, his guard parting to allow the Lord of the Rock to enter. He wore Lannister red and black, gold gilded armor. Lions roared at his shoulders with designs across his arms and chest. A display of wealth and power if there ever was one, he forwent his helm carried by a knight under his service. "We should set the siege lines a thousand yards from Duskendale. Have our men start on the siege tower and Trebuchet as soon as possible." Lord Tywin gestured to the field before the port city.
"We should have the men dig trenches as well and set, Chevals in case Lord Denys grows the balls to sally out to meet us on the field,'" Robert grunted from his place just behind Rhaegar.
Lord Tywin glanced at Robert with a raised brow. "Why would he abandon the safety of his walls to face an army twice his size?"
"Cornered rats tend to bite more than one's that can still hide," Robert replied with a shrug.
"Not with the king in his hands, he has a unique position but not a very stable one" Lord Tywin finished his conversation with Robert, before turning his horse to the castle. From the city, the gates opened forth briefly as a small party flying the white banner rode out. They spotted his standard and rode to meet Rhaegar.
"Your Grace, my Lord wishes to Parley with you before any blood is spilt." The man delivered the message, though his eyes were on the massive host instead of Rhaegar himself.
"Very well have him ride at mid-day, he will hear my terms of his surrender." Rhaegar turned his mount without another word to his camp. By midday he chose Ned, Robert, Lord Tywin, and Ser Arthur as his party to join him. Lord Denys party consisted of the Lord himself ser Symon Hollard and the knights twin brother, Ser Stefford Hollard.
"Your Grace, no blood should be spilt today, I wanted prosperity for my people and peace. Not this, never this." Lord Denys humbled himself with his words and the bowing of his head. He was an older man, more so than anyone save Lord Tywin. He had greying hair at his sides, his midsection was round, a thin beard hid his double chin. The doublet he wore looked uncomfortably tight. He was even sweating, despite the day being mild at best. Rhaegar wagered his army had more to do with that.
"So you say, but you killed my fathers men, and put him in chains," Rhaegar glared down Lord Darklyn, who fidgeted on his horse darting his eyes away from him.
"Your Grace, my son is only a boy, he is innocent in my folly. Please allow me to take the black as punishment!" Lord Darklyn proposal elected a response from Ned.
"Taking the black is for men who serve the realm, not themselves." Ned's glared,cold enough to freeze a man.
"Watch your mouth boy, men are speaking." Ser Symon tried threatening Ned.
Ned only let out a brief laugh,"Men who forget how their knees bend."
Lord Tywin put an end to their squabble. "Enough this is a parley, not time to trade insults."
"Then how say you of my terms, Your Grace?" Lord Denys quickly interjected, hoping his swiftness would make Rhaegar agree.
Rhaegar shook his head to deny the pleading Lord."Your people say your wife whispered treason into your ear, I have no guarantees your wife won't do the same with your son."
Lord Darklyn used a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Peasant talk Your Grace, please don't let the superstitions influence you." Lord Denys panicked, wiping more sweat from his face. "Please, the king forced my hand! He ordered his Kingsguard to slay me where I stood! We barely spoke please I had no choice but to defend myself!"
Rhaegar gave pause to his next words, had his father done such a thing? No Lord Darklyn was desperate to just come out on top. "Then accept my terms, they are more than fair. Your son will be fostered along with my brother, Viserys. When he comes of age he shall inherit Duskendale." Rhaegar did not falter, the Lord would bow to the dragon or know his family words.
"But your grace…please don't take my son!" Lord Darklyn let tears slip from his eyes.
By the gods, Rhaegar almost pitied him when he saw the kindly looking old man cry. "You took my father and killed his men, that is not something so easily forgiven. Submit My Lord, I won't ask again." Rhaegar left no room for argument.
Lord Denys wiped his tears away, he resigned himself with a certain determination."I cannot, Your Grace."
Robert answered the Lord's declaration with his own, "Then we shall see you on the battlements."
"No I believe you shan't, if your army attacks, I will kill the king." Lord Denys threat only served to anger Rhaegar but he kept his cool. It would be unbecoming to let him know he had rattled him.
"A mistake the bards will sing to other Lords, too bad you won't be able to hear it." Lord Tywin turned his horse riding away. Rhaegar followed suit ending the ultimately unproductive parley. Under Ser Gerold's command the camp was raised a hundred leagues from the siege line. The men under Ser Oswell Whent constructed the siege tower. The Trebuchets being built under Lord Tywin, with Robert a good portion of men dug the trenches on the siege line. Ned led a party to a nearby small woods to collect timber for Chevals to deter any charges from a force coming from the castle. When the sun dipped, torches lit the camp, the trenches were manned and ready. The siege tower would take another day to finished. The trebuchets were finished and men would be sent to gather stone with carts the following morning.
Rhaegar entered his command tent, various lords and knights gathered representing their house forces. "Your Grace, by the look on your face, I assume the parlay failed. When do we start the siege?" Lord Monford was eager for battle, like a few of the men he was young and eager to prove himself. Robert was among those wanting to storm the walls and dare Lord Denys to kill the king.
"There shall be no siege, Lord Denys threatens to kill my father if we move on the walls." Rhaegar told his commanders who cursed the Lord of Duskendale a thousand deaths.
"Then what are we to do, Your Grace?" Lord Manly Stokeworth, an old man with grey hair, coughed out.
"We wait, once our army is ready I shall call for a parley again. If he is not made to see reason we shall brand him and his house traitors." Lord Tywin spoke to them, he entered the tent having caught the tail end of Lord Manly's words. He had removed his gauntlets wearing black riding gloves. As he rounded the table Rhaegar's commanders gathered around, he found his seat. "We can do nothing more, less he follows through with his threat."
"He is not so foolish, he knows his position, My Lord Hand." Ser Ilyn Payne, lifted a fist in protest. He was captain of Lord Tywin's guard, if Rhaegar recalled correctly.
Rhaegar lifted his hand to halt all talk. "My Lords, we are tired from a long march, the men are tired, as am I. There is nothing we can do for the moment. Let us not tire ourselves out for Lord Denys to take advantage off. We shall meet on the morrow and discuss this further." Silent nods were given and his commanders returned to their own tents and respective commands.
Robert
"You're insane, Robert!" Ned hissed.
Robert didn't see Ned pause dressing in all black leathers despite his complaining. He put on mail as well and tied a scarf around his neck to cover his face. Robert's plan was simple, climb the battlements, sneak into the keep,and win glory by saving the king. Robert admitted it was poorly thought out, and chances are they would need to fight their way out. Ned, similarly dressed, tied a sword belt around his waist. He produced two cloaks from a chest, throwing one to Robert. They were ready, Robert slung his warhammer across his back and prepared to head out the tent.
"What are you doing?" Rhaegar stood at the entrance with a raised brow.
Robert froze on the spot and looked to Ned. "Patrolling the camp," admittedly not the best response Robert could think off.
"You bloody fools, you plan to climb the walls?" Rhaegar put a hand to his hip his other slicked his hair back.
"That's insane, we're just making rounds." Robert wasn't about to be known as a man who left the sinking boat he sailed on. He was too bloody proud to admit it after all.
Rhaegar sighed, shaking his head. "Well Ned isn't saying a word, meaning you dragged him along, and why would you patrol with a climbing hook and rope?" Rhaegar gestured to the items in question on Ned's cot. That Robert had no answer for, but with a soft laugh Rhaegar removed Blackfyer's sheath from his belt tossing to Robert. "Save my father, end this before it escalates."
Robert nodded silently before tossing the sword to Ned. "You're the better sword, I do best with my hammer." Ned caught the sword, quickly he replaced the sheaths. With a lick of his lips Rhaegar put his fist forward, Ned did so next followed by Robert.
"We're going to do this until we are so old we can't shit without help, aren't we?" Robert japed.
"We'll probably need help to do this too," Ned added causing a laugh among the three of them.
"Alright, good luck." Rhaegar pulled his fist back Robert and Ned followed suit. Exiting the tent Robert led them to the western end of the camp. The sentries paid them no mind when the two sat down by some rocks and ate bread.
Ned bit into his roll and grimaced chewing the piece thoroughly. "I should have just ate fucking stones."
"The light on the western wall is gone, let's move," Robert squinted in the darkness standing up. The trudge past the lines to the walls was quick enough. Pressing against the western wall, Robert adjusted the rope around his shoulder. Taking the hook Robert was about ready to toss it when a hooded figure approached them. "Shit!" Robert hissed, he dropped the hook to bring his hammer to bare. The newcomer was faster, his sword left his sheath to strike at Robert. Ned parried the strike, the sound of steel felt so bloody loud in his ears. The attacker locked blades before he twisted his sword and disarming Ned. Blackfyre dropped to the ground, Ned stepped back into the wall, his face catching the light of the moon light.
"Eddard?" the cloaked man rasped and pulled his cloak down to reveal the greying hair of Ser Barristan Selmy.
Eddard
Ned sighed and relaxed as Ser Barristan put his sword away, Robert put his hammer down having been ready to crush Ser Barristan's skull.
"Return to the camp this is no place for you," Ser Barristan whispered looking up the battlements to see if they were heard.
Robert spat on the ground unwilling to back down. "Bullocks to that, the father of my brother is there and I mean to rescue him." Robert padded his heart with his fist.
"You don't need to worry about the king, that is my duty as a Kingsguard," Ser Barristan protested.
"Then cut us down Ser Barristan because we shall not falter," Ned finished picking up Blackfyre and sheathing the sword.
"Damn it! Fine, but I can't guarantee your safety, the king comes first." Ser Barristan pointed at them with a scowl. Their dispute settled, Ned took the climbing hook his eyes squinted in the darkness while he looked where to throw the hook. Sticking his tongue out between his lips, Ned spun the hook three times before he flung it over the battlements. Ned pulled the rope until it was taught. The sound of metal hitting stone almost unbearably loud, even Ser Barristan flinched. Ned climbed first with a grunt, he pulled himself up, he grabbed onto the stone and hopped the battlements.
Robert came up next, with his help he swung the bigger men over. Lastly Ser Barristan who removed the hook throwing it down below. "Let's not raise any alarms shall we?" He looked to them both with a poignant look.
Truding down the wall, they found the stone steps leading down. Through the lit torches on the battlements, Ned spotted the bulk of Lord Denys army facing the camp. Robert tapped his shoulder when his gaze lingered too long and he nodded following Ser Barristan and him down. A few men sat by a fire talking. Their conversation was grim from what they caught, none of them expected to survive the siege. One of them talked of hopping the wall and running to the camp.
Inspecting the party of three men gather around the fire, from the looks of their uniforms they weren't your usual levies. Still they were so engrossed into their conversation It was easy to pick a man each. On Ser Barristan's signal, a nod of his head Ned killed his first man with the plunge of his sword into the man's back. When Robert hit his man with the hammer, the sound of skull being crushed brought the bile up his throat. Ser Barristan finished his man with his dirk stabbing him in the back.
"Get their uniforms," Ser Barristan commanded and it was quick enough work to free the corpse of their outer layer. The blood was easy enough to hide in the darkness. The added cloak around their bodies practically made the point mute. Sheathing his sword Ned was first dressed and kept a lookout, while Robert cursed softly to himself. His man was smaller than him. Some silence followed by the sound of ripping fabric. Ned looked back to see Robert's back, his friend craned his neck back to see the fabric split at his back. Ser Barristan could not help a chuckle and neither could Ned. With the cloak on, Robert mumbled something about small men and small cocks. Walking the streets small folk huddled together and whispered about the coming battle. Some of the peasant men not drafted as levies, too old or disabled, whispered to their children to hide in the attics and cellars. The women told their daughters to wear their brother's, or husband's breeches so as to avoid being raped.
The local sept was crowded as the septon gave a sermon, the peasants on bended knee prayed for their lives not to be slaughtered by the army outside. All Ned's previous misgivings vanished, thousands of men and women did not need to suffer for their Lords treason. Saving the king was now their only hope to not see these people be butchered by the men outside. When the Dun Fort loomed over them, the three man made sure to pull their scarves up and hoods down.
"We're here to change shifts," Ser Barristan spoke for them.
The men looked them over before shrugging with disinterest and moved aside to let them pass. "Aye, get some shut eye, a battle might be on us soon." The guard threw his thumb behind him to the Fort.
"Aye, so there will be." Ser Barristan quietly whispered, entering inside Robert and Ned followed the knight. The Fort was foreign but their first objective was finding stairs leading down. With luck the first set of stairs they found led them to the dungeons. Down inside two men guarded the king. Ser Barristan cleared his throat, then proceeded to walk to the men. They looked to them and tightened the hold on their spears.
"Go get some rest, your shift is over," Ser Barristan said, and they eyed them queerly, not convinced.
"You aren't the usual relief, where's Piper?" the man on the right demanded.
Robert moved before anyone could react, in a swift motion he smashed the man on the right. The wind left him with a painful hiss with the sound of his bones crushing his lungs. The other barely got the time to point his spear when Robert smashed him across the face. The man's neck snapped with the sheer force, blood and teeth spewing from mouth to the ground. The bodies fell in a heap causing the man inside to wake.
"What? What's going out there? Answer your king fools!" The king's demand was loud and made the men cringe. This stealth approach would end in failure if the king began shouting.
Ser Barristan threw his hood off, he knelt before the king but put a finger to his lips to silence him. The king blinked in the barely lit cells before he looked in recognition to his kingsguard.
"Ser Barristan?" the king's dry throat strained the words out, he moved as quickly as he could to see them.
Robert was next to speak after looting the bodies for a water skin. "We have come to your aid, Your Grace." Robert passed the skin to the king, he popped the top in desperation, drinking the cooling liquid inside. His thirst so great he spilled most of it on his grimy clothes, he wiped his bearded mouth sighing his relief.
"Thank you lad, who is that?" The king pointed to Ned.
He removed his hood bowing his head to the king with a smile of his own. "A loyal man, Your Grace."
"We must move quickly to the stables, find some horses and ride for the gate." Robert interrupted them while he searched the guard for keys, when he found none, he grabbed his hammer moving for the cell door. "Stand back, Your Grace" Robert brought his hammer back with both hands. Ned already saw him swing the thing with one hand, with two he destroyed the lock utterly. It was loud and no doubt would alarm anyone on the immediate area.
The king grinned pushing the door out and clasping each of their hands with a pad to their shoulders. He suddenly stopped smiling and asked the three men pointedly, "Where's Tywin?"
"Outside, with your son and his army, Your Grace" Ser Barristan informed, to the king's displeasure.
Before he could launch into a tirade about Lord Tywin Ned was quick to get them to move. "Please Your Grace, there is no time we must move swiftly." Ned moved from them back up the stairs careful to spy the Fort halls for guards. "Shit where could the stables be?" Ned walked back the way they first entered, rounding the first corner and ran into a servant girl. She began apologies that died in her throat when she noticed the unfamiliar faces.
"W-who are you?" she stuttered out, before the king came into her view she seemed to realize she was about to die. Ned was quick cover her mouth before she could scream.
"Shh," Ned insisted the pressure on her mouth firm, but gentle to convey he meant no harm to her.
"Cut her throat and let's go" The king barked, just a bit too loudly for their taste.
The girl panicked but Ned was quick to calm her fears. "I won't kill you, help us to the stables and I will let you go about your business, then forget you saw us." Ned in a vote of confidence gently lifted his hand from her mouth, she did not scream and wiped her eyes from unshed tears. She nodded hastily, Ned helped her up and she guided them down the halls to the stables. Separated by a door, Robert opened it slowly peeking inside to confirm the place.
"Good, remember forget we were here, if we get the king to safety this can all end without anyone dying," Ned was sure to remind her the consequences of their failure to save the king. The girl nodded quickly before scurrying off. The king looked to Ned strangely, but he kept his peace allowing himself to be guided into the stables. Several horses were still in their stalls, Robert was first at freeing four, Ser Barristan looked for saddles leaving him to guard the king. From the shadows Ned caught movement, something hopped the far stall closest to the door, Ned drew Blackfyre. He scrambled for the shadow, when it crossed the light of one of a candle, it was a boy well within sword range. His heart dropped, Ned lifted Blackfyre to cut the boy down.
The moment passed, and the boy ran out the door screaming, "treason, treason, treason!" He couldn't do it, the gods help them he couldn't kill a child.
"Fuck sakes! Move this is do or die now," Robert yelled, no use whispering now with their cover blown. The three men had the horses saddled, the straps still hung from the beast when the boy ran waking the whole dam castle.
"Your Grace, take this one I'll help saddle the others." Ned patted his mount, the king sat the horse while Ned moved to help Robert.
"Bloody rats, you have some balls to come here just you three," from the door Ser Symon Hollard burst through. He was in his armor without a helm accompanied by his brother and three more guards, the boy had found help quicker then Ned expected, he managed to saddle Robert's horse and Ser Barristan saddled his when Ser Symon's party broke in.
Ser Steffon, clearly the more honorable of the brothers, was first to offer them surrender. "Please, drop your weapons you're outnumbered do not throw your lives away."
Ser Barristan drew his steel first, they all in turn drew theirs in a tense moment, "Sers, your Lord betrayed his king, do not-"
Ser Barristan was interrupted by the king, "Enough of this Ser Barristan! Kill them all, the traitors!"
Ser Symon struck first for Ser Barristan, but Ned intercepted, crossing swords. The guards moved and the fight began. Unarmed, the king drew his horse away from the battle, the three men formed a line before the king. Ned parried Ser Symon's furious strikes. He slashed at Ned's throat. Ned stepped back briefly before countering cutting for his opponent's arms to disable him.
Ser Symon caught Ned's strike and eyed Blackfyre. "Valyrian steel, it will be a fine sword when I take it from your cold hands." He taunted Ned, but he did not give in to the man's barb. Ned turned the blade, letting Ser Symon's sword slide down to catch on the cross guard. Though he could half-sword and grab the blade to get better leverage, grabbing the valyrian blade would end with him losing his fingers. But with a push Ned nicked the knights cheek causing the two to break apart. Ser Symon reached for his face and his gauntlet returned bloodied. "You'll pay for that you little shit, the knight hacked with murderous rage. Ned was quicker, parrying blows left, then right. A stab, the knight meant to pierce Ned's heart. Keeping the sword close to his body Ned was able to parry the blade left then with swift swipe up the Valyrian steel cut through the gauntlet, mail and, gambeson underneath. With barely any resistance the blade cut into Ser symon's flesh. The bone easily gave way and Ned cut through taking Ser Symon's hands.
"AAGHHHH!" the knight screamed loud enough the entire city heard it.
With grim determination, Ned cut down Ser Symon removing his head in a clean cut ending his misery. His head rolled by Ned's feet, his body went slack and he fell with a loud clank of armor. With a quick scan, Ned noticed Robert had made quick work of the guards, their bodies bloodied, smashed by his hammer. With fury his friend grabbed the final guard's spear after he thrusted at Robert. Robert brought his hammer down breaking the spear shaft. Robert took a wide step forward, and swung the hammer. The guard never stood a chance as Robert smashed his chest. The mail rings flung from his chest, the spike drove through his two layers of armor. The force crushed his ribs, and the spike pierced his heart.
Ser Barristan crossed sword with Ser Steffon. A swift turn of Ser Barristan's sword was all it took to push Ser Steffon's sword closer to his body. Half-swording, Ser Barristan knocked the sword away from Ser Steffon's body and cut his throat open with the tip of his sword. The knight's sword clattered to the ground, his gauntlet-clad hands trying desperately to keep his life's blood inside.
"My son," the knight gurgled through the blood filling his lungs and mouth.
Ser Barristan, a man of honor nodded to Ned who moved in quickly with Blackfyre to deliver the killing stroke into the knight's heart. The sword stabbing through plate as if it was mere cloth.
"We need to move." Ser Barristan sheathed his sword moving to saddle the last horse. Ned helped the knight ending the task in mere minutes. The four men rode out into the city at full stride. Leaning into the seat they sped down to the town bells ringing to signal the town of their escape. The entire city was risen by the yell of soldier and small folk filled the streets. Garbbed as soldiers, they hardly payed them heed. The Southern wall facing the army was first on alert, men climbed the battlements prepared for an assault.
Robert in a booming voice, ordered the gates be open. "Open the gate!" The men manning the walls were mostly levies, half scared peasant farmers and fishermen. They would see their uniforms and simply do as told.
The king rode ahead thrusting his hand outward in a commanding nature, "Open the gate, your king commands it!" They had not counted on the king's actions to give them away.
"The prisoner is escaping! Get them lads!" The levies, confident in their superior numbers charged with their spears. Ned drew his sword first, he rode into the levies his horse knocking a few down. With Blackfyre Ned cut through spear shaft and men alike, the king with the pilfered sword from one of the Hollard brothers, fended off his own attackers. Robert smashed anyone who dared try him. While Ser Barristan cut his opponents with such skill, every stroke of his blade was a kill. Ned broke through his attackers, to cut down the leives attacking the king. Looking to the gatehouse, Ned swiftly climbed off his horse to get to the gate. Ser Barristan had the same idea entrusting the horses and the king to Robert. Entering the right tower to the gate house the spiraling stairs led up with just three men to block their path. Ser Barristan made quick work of two. But his sword caught on the second, when the third tried to thrust his spear at the knight. Ned cut through the shaft and then took the man's head. He had to press himself to the wall as head and body fell down the stairs in a bloody heap.
"To the gate!" Ser Barristan barked the order and climbed the steps two at a time. When they entered the gatehouse proper Ser Barristan sheathed his sword, he moved quickly to the winch and began the process to open the gate. The metal chains rattled and the gears groaned in protest as the heavy doors slowly swung outward. From the left tower men came in to stop them. Ned took a guard stance standing before Ser Barristan.
"I will guard you, Ser!" Ned fought off his attackers, as fast as he was it wasn't long before the force of the blow broke through his mail wounding Ned's right hip. The adrenaline coursing through his veins allowed him to cut the offenders throat. His next man was quick to thrust a spear to his heart. Ned parried it with the flat end of Balckfyre before cutting the man's arm off neutralizing him. His final attacker thrust his sword stabbing Ned just above the pelvis on his right side. The gambeson saved Ned as about four inches of the sword pierced into his body before Ned pierced his attacker's heart. With his attackers dealt with, Ned fell to a knee using Blackfyre to support himself. His free hand covered the wound on his hip. Ser Barristan came to him and helped Ned to his feet.
"Can you walk, lad?" The knight looked him over his hand feeling the wounds.
Ned grunted, the pain was there, but he could move and still fight. "Aye, let's move."
The two men hurried exiting the way they came, taking the steps two at a time. Ser Barristan exited first, he was greeted by Robert hitting a man so hard with his hammer he caved his skull in. Robert kicked the poor soul off his hammer. The gate was open, their escape secured. From the far left men were already moving to stop them. Far off lights of flames scurried across the battlements to the gate. With quick haste they rode out to meet their allies, arrows fell to their backsides missing their mark. They were desperate now, as the four men made their escape Ned heard the encroaching whistle of the arrows. Without thinking Ned forced the king to the side. A pained expression etched itself in his face as his right shoulder exploded with agony.
"Ned!" Robert exclaimed.
"Ride! Just Ride!" Ned yelled finally crossing the thousand into their lines.
Rhaegar was first to meet them, the joy in his seeing them gave way to horror.
Rhaegar
"Where is Maester!" His father rasped and the maester that had joined them came to them with some assistants.
"Your Grace, please come so I can examine you." The Maester moved to his father, but was quickly turned away.
"To hell with that! Eddard Stark, you fool, look after him! He saved my life. That's more than you did Tywin!" his father yelled before he pointed an accusatory finger at Lord Tywin.
"Look after the lad, Pycell, he has just served the realm greatly." Tywin ignored his father, knowing full well now wasn't the time.
"Come on, my sister might fancy you more if you tell her you're a hero." Arthur moved to help Ned off his horse, the maester quickly followed and helped Ned remove his clothes, after Arthur broke the arrow shaft stabbed in Ned's shoulder. The three faded into the crowd of men.
"You Grace, I suggest we assemble the men and storm the castle while they try to get ready," Lord Tywin suggested to him.
"I am in command here now, Tywin. We take Duskendale and kill everyone!" his father spat in aggravation and the Lords looked to each other nodding.
"On your orders, Your Grace," Manford Velaryon spoke first.
Robert pointed to the city getting everyone's attention. "There riders under the white banner." The whole of the army was marching out of the city, white banners flapped and men held their hands up unarmed. Rhaegar took command, yelling the men into action to keep his father from ordering a massacre.
"Ranks! Form ranks and hold!" Rhaegar's command was passed to the men in the trenches, they left their protective holes, the spearmen formed the front with shields up and spears down. The men-at-arms followed by the mounted knights and men-at-arms. The army was ready by the time men stopped coming from the city. Lord Darklyn rode out with some of his men under the white banner, none were armed.
"Your Grace, by the old gods and the new you are free to do with me as you please. But please spare my people and my family!" Lord Darklyn lost all form of dignity, he clumsily got off his horse and fell to his knees pleading.
"You imprisoned me! You threaten my life and demand mercy?" his father screamed in a fit of rage.
"You wanted my whole family dead, what was I to do?" Lord Darklyn clasped his hands outright crying for mercy. "Your Grace, look on me with mercy I acted out of desperation I did not want my family butchered!" Lord Darklyn groveled. He crawled to Rhaegar's horse his hands grasping the cold metal of his armored leg. Rhaegar swallowed had it really been true then? Had his father come here demanding heads?
"You imprisoned me! But now there is only one way this will end! Your head on a spike with your entire namesake" his father growled "Ser Gerold! Take this man's head. Have the men bring the rest of his family out here!"
Ser Gerold looked grim, but he nodded moving to the disgraced Lord he drew his sword and held it with both hands.
"No! Please, Your Grace, take me! But spare my family!" Lord Darklyn stood, leaving Rhaegar's side he threw himself at his father's feet.
His father snarled and kicked the Lord away, "Dead! Make an example of him I want him dead!"
"Ser Gerold! You are good and true a knight of true honor! You would not murder women and children will you?" Lord Darklyn, now mad with fear, smiled at the knight with fool's hope in his eyes. To the Lord's credit, Ser Gerold hesitated and looked to his father one more time asking silently if these were his orders.
"Kill him!" His father ordered, without another word Ser Gerold swung his sword, he cut off any further words from Lord Darklyn. The bones of his neck didn't so much as catch the sword and his head rolled. The body fell before everyone, to a silent audience unsure what to make of the situation.
His father turned his gaze to the terrified men outside the city walls. After a painful moment of silence he threw his hand up carelessly in their direction. "Bah! They did their duty, I cannot blame them. Ser Gerold, take forty men I want that castle under my control and House Darklyn on their knees before me."
Gathering the forty men, the knight marched into the castle. Rhaegar sighed and turned his horse to return to the camp to find Ned. In a tent near the siege lines Ned was mostly patched up, his wounds sewn shut and bandaged properly. The final wound on his back was being cleaned when Rhaegar entered. Ned grimaced but made no further complains.
"Ned, how are you feeling, my friend?" Rhaegar knelt before him. His tone betrayed his sadness at what was happening outside.
"Like shit," Ned commented as the maester finished his work.
"I can still give you milk of the poppy, lad." The maester told him as he slowly put his tools away.
"I'm not a little boy, Maester. I will endure," Ned proclaimed, he donned a white shirt and grey doublet. He kept the laces undone and grabbed his sword pausing by Rhaegar he lifted it and Rhaegar remembered he had given him Blackfyre.
"It came in handy," Ned said with a smile.
"Should have seen Ned, I didn't think he could swing a sword that good." Robert came up nearly patted Ned's back but thought better of it.
"Practicing with the Kingsguard helped." Ned smiled a little and it was true. Arthur had proved to be the best sword of the Kingsguard he had in ages. Robert was the only one that so far could beat Arthur, while Ned was able to at most force a draw. Rhaegar turned and Ned went out with them as they exited the tent to find the fate of Duskendale and its people. On their knees before them was the rest of house Darklyn. Rhaegar felt his gut twist as the young children were forced to watch the corpse of their father.
"Your Grace, spare my children!" Lady Serala pleaded through tear red eyes.
"Rebellion and deceit every smallfolk you whispered in your husbands ear!" his father yelled.
"Lies they are all lies!" she pleaded to unmoved hearts. A few bold men called her a witch.
"Father, spare her, we can take the young heir and be done with this." Rhaegar tried to show mercy to a beaten enemy.
"Too soft! We are the dragons! I told you changes will be done and now it is more apparent than so! Treason from our own bannerman!" His father stomped his foot in fury.
"Kill them all! Take all their heads but the woman's! Ser Gerold, behead the whole house!" His father's orders gave no room for argument. "The woman I want her silver tongue out and her cunt ripped from her and burnt for her treachery!"
"Your Grace, spare the boy!" Ser Barristan showed himself protecting the boy from House Hollard that rebelled with their liege.
"Ser Barristan," mumbled the king, surprised. Ned and Robert knelt next to the knight, they pleaded for the boy's life as well.
"Aye, Your Grace please spare the boy, his fault is only loyalty to his lord," Ned was plain in his plea.
"Show mercy and show he can be made into a man of loyalty." Robert's pleas were next.
The king looked through the kneeling men before him, then to the cowering boy. "Very well, fine I can spare the boy, I will even grant him Duskendale as his seat if he proves himself loyal to the crown!" His father proclaimed to all present as a show of power.
"Thank you, Your Grace. I will make him my squire, make him a man of honor and loyalty." Ser Barristan stood and took the boy from the carnage.
"Let this be a lesson! To all who think of betraying the king treachery will be paid with blood and fire!" His father's words echoed in the army turn and let Ser Gerold and the men do as he ordered.
"Clean this up and once the woman has been," Lord Tywin paused perhaps in pity, "dealt with, bury her with her children." He turned and left their presence.
"We need a castellan of the Dun Fort while Dontos Hollard is still young." Rhaegar told the retreating Hand of the King.
"Aye, I suggest we put Monford Valaryon the son of Lucerys Velaryon, he is young but promising." Lord Tywin threw out the name, he did not seem to care.
"Eddard! Kneel before me for you have earned this!" his father said to his rescuer. "Blackfyre Rhaegar, come on!" his father rasped, holding his hand out impatiently.
Rhaegar unsheathed his sword and gave it to his father.
"Here in the field you proved yourselves worthy of knighthood. I, Aerys Targaryen, second of my name, King of the Andals the First men and the Rhoynar, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the realm, hereby grant you knighthood!"
Despite the blood today and the death of children that Rhaegar felt he would see in his dreams, clapped as Ned, though being of the old gods, rose a knight. Everyone followed the lead no doubt seeking distraction from the butchered women and children being hauled off just a few yards away. The event passed the army began the slow process of breaking up the surrendered forces. The levies allowed to return home either in the city or the countryside free of the nightmare they witnessed. Soon after the royal army began breaking camp for the long march home.
Ned put an arm around his hand on Rhaegar's shoulder "Rhaegar?"
Rhaegar blinked, he had been off in his own little world he hadn't noticed everyone start breaking camp to march home. A force under Lord Tywin's command would remain to hold the castle and make sure Manford Velaryon was given proper reins of the city.
"Don't worry so much, we got lot's to look forward and I have a hell of a task before me. Isn't that right, Ned?" Robert, always the quickest to smile of the three, tried to lift their spirits.
"Right, come on. I'll tell you on the way home. Robert managed to squeeze Lyanna's betrothal from me," Ned grumbled, walking away from the city the three young men tried to forget the screams of the dying behind them.
Okay here is the turning point, the warm fuzzy feelings will be very and I do mean VERY far and few in between. More POVs will be added, now The main POVs will still be Ned Robert and Rhaegar but as we mount up to an event that will change Westeros forever. As you saw I already began the minor changes to cannon, Robert and Ned where with Ser Barristan to rescue Aerys. To answer some questions here's or question here is to a long time reader of my stuff now from across the pond.
L'etranger0: I'm sorry the message is again a bit but form what I gathered the story is too warm for your liking? Well don't worry the point of the warmth is for it to be a contrast to what is to come, the mad king is here! Duskendale has happened and things are about to degrade.
Alright guys, again please read and review, I cannot stress how much I enjoy you guys following and favoriting this story but please! Give me feedback! I want to know what this story does for you I like the comment's but like my friend L'etranger0 here reviewed I like to know your reviews and listen to your views on the story.
READ AND REVIEW LADS!
Edit 3/30/2017: Okay chapter five down! Shadowcrest Nightingale I thank you again.