Elia
"Well? Was it big?" Ashara was proving most, uncomftarble in this long ride of theirs she had relented on questions about her and Robert. That lasted almost half the month ride up before she began asking again. Elia suggested they read and that a lady did not speak of such matters, being ever the sarcastic woman that she was, she implied she was a princess not a lady. Would that not make it more improper? Well it certainly didn't matter to Ashara.
"I don't know, I never seen another man's to tell" she blushed, she couldn't believe she relented, now she was subject to all manner of questions from Ashara. She supposed at the very least she wasn't subjected to the heat of Dorne. She had only ever left her home as a girl when her mother chose to betrothed her to Lord Tywin's son, Jaime Lannister.
"He certainly looks like a big fellow" Ashara mused and Elia groaned covering her face.
"Why must we speak of my tryst with Robert? What about this Ned of yours?" she tried changing the subject. When Ashara grinned mischievously, and Elia regretted it instantly what was worse? Knowing about a man she had seen naked, or knowing more about a total stranger. Her meetings with Lord Stark had bene brief. He proved a gentle soul and unlike her brother he was rather slow to anger. Though like her brother he was quick to smile she liked that about Lord Stark.
"I have not ridden the wolf to know" she confessed but laughed when Elia looked relieved.
"You are such a prude Elia, you are Dornish!" Ashara pointed out her sometimes shy nature. Elia couldn't help it and she didn't want to change that about her. Oberyn said her shyness and gentle heart is why everyone loved her. She would deny this, if she were a lesser woman she would be envious of Ashara who got the attention of the boys in Sunspear all the time. She entertained them all but allowed one kiss and then she threw them away. Elia always reprimanded her for breaking the hearts of the poor boys. Ashara waved it off that it wasn't their heart she was breaking.
"Aye and you sound like you're an old drunken lecherous sailor" Elia pointed out and Ashara merely waved it off as her being shy. Trying to get away from the awkward conversation Elia took her favorite book from under the seat of the wheel house. Ashara sighed, and leaned on her lavish cushioned seat, using a pillow to rest her head.
"Oh there is your shield, do I bore you that much my dearest friend?" Ashara said dramatically.
"More you annoy me with your lecherous nature dearest of friends" Elia quipped and Ashara laughed somewhat unlady like. Not that it mattered, they both acted unlady like with each other it was nice just being girls sometimes.
"How many times have you read that anyways?" Elia caressed the old pages of her book and smiled at it, hundreds perhaps thousands. The mysteries of Valyria, an account from various sources of the world on the ancient culture of Valyria. Though the author was a Maester Mason, but it had accounts from other authors on their research on ancient Valyria.
"Stories of the long dead hardly seem all that fun" Ashara commented.
"It's not meant to about fun, its about the mistery! Think of it how many secrets could be hidden on the smoking sea" Elia said wondering of what ancient secrets were there.
"Ancient secrets buried with the stone men to guard them, I say let them have it" Ashara sat up and reached for the wine on the side of the wheel house. The wheel house stopped, looking up from her book Elia lifted the curtains on the window by her side. Her escort looked confused and Elia opened the back door. A knight Ser Albert was on his horse behind them.
"My Princess, forgive the trouble a cart is blocking the path" he looked to two other riders.
"You two go move the cart" he ordered. Dismounting their horses they left her field of vision.
"Don't worry my lady we'll be moving and be to Kings Landing before-shit!" Ser Albert cursed and unsheathed his sword the rest of her guard drew their swords.
"What's wrong?" Elia asked feeling her heart beat faster.
"An arrow just killed one of my men, get back inside do not open the door until I tell you!" he ordered and Elia closed the door. she locked it from the other side Ashara looked at her confused.
"What is it?" she asked, putting her wine cup down. Elia looked to Ashara shrugging trying to calm her heart.
"I don't know one of the men" she got cut off the sound of horses barreling and men yelling reached their ears. The sound of steel clashing and men dying followed.
"Ser Albert!" called out Elia.
"Stay inside! Don't open that door!" he yelled.
"Hold man ranks around the cart don't let them pass!" the yelling became more intense, and at the same time becoming less resounding. Men were dying out there and she was inside cowering with Ashara. Her friend from the seat grabbed a dirk and clutched it tight.
"Come on Elia" she said and Elia sat with her friend on the far end of the cart hugging Ashara. The clash was dying down and they couldn't tell which side was winning.
"Get on the wheel house! Take it out of here!" Elia heard Ser Albert yell. The wheel house rocked a little and though muffled Elia pressed her ear against the back of the wheel house. She heard a loud thud and more voices from her guard.
"Ser! Mikiel's dead!" she heard.
"Everyone is dying! Shite!" another grunt followed by Ser Albert talking.
"Ezack! Get out of here ride to Kings Landing go! Go!" he yelled and that definitely was not a good sign. The sounds of steel died out and a horse neighed in pain followed by Seer Alberts own yell. Cheers erupted followed by silence.
"Get the door open eh Smiles" a voice she did not recognize spoke, his accent proved he wasn't Dornish. The door buckled a little, then it rattled hard.
"I need the keys" the voice laughed deeply.
"Here you go" a woman's voice said and after a brief reprieved Elia yelled scared. Ashara hugged her close and tried hushing her. The mysterious man smashed an axe into the center of the door destroying the lock. The axe pulled back and light filtered from the outside. Looking into the hole, green eyes that crinkled to show the man was smiling. In the light they looked almost kind, but Elia knew better they were at the mercy of no kind men. The same man opened the wheel house gates, and Elia gasped, the man was enormous easily the biggest man she had ever seen. His face at the end of his lips had scars curved upward looking like a crude and disturbed evil grin.
"Smiles you're scaring the poor girls with that ugly mug." The woman in voice came into her vision. She was blonde and fair with a bow on her hands an arrow strung on it.
"I am not a scarecrow, little birds. Come out and play" he smiled and to anyone else it might have looked kind. Elia on the other hand felt disturbed the man looked at them with no lust. Something far more perverse that made Elia's body tremble.
"Back away Smile's they aren't yours to play with. Ah my ladies forgive the… poor welcoming, but welcome to the Kings Wood" another man came into view was a bit old, with a thick brown beard and warm eyes.
"Now come out, please there's been enough violence for today" he said grinning and offering his hand. Ashara looked at Elia and nodded slowly. Ashara hid her dirk using Elia to hide it, the two slowly made their way to the exit and climbed down ignoring the man's offered hand. Elia felt her stomach drop and her eyes sting with tears. Bodies of her countrymen lay strew dead and from the band of…marauders were relieving them of their boots clothing. The big man she heard being called smiles moved aside and she saw Ser Albert on his knees bruised and bloodied on his knees.
"Ser Albert!" Elia tried to move but Ashara held her shaking her head.
"My Princess" he groaned out he was wounded but she could not tell where.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you" he said shame filling his every word.
"Ser Albert please do not speak you are wounded" Elia lamented and the knight offered her a smile.
"Aye he killed eight of my lads before we took him down" the bearded man spoke.
"Who are you people?" Ashara demanded holding Elia closer and clutching the dirk tighter against Elia's back.
"How rude of us, my name is Simon Toyne, that big lug right there, well we just call him the smiling knight" the smiling knight as his name sake smiled with his scarred face making it freighting.
"That's Wanda the White Fawn, hell of a bow by the way" Simon commented making the woman in question bow her head.
"That silent fellow there is Oswind the thriced hanged, buggers had three lords try to hang him, still ain't dead yet" the man with a scarf over his neck silently nodded form his horse.
"That ugly bastard downing wine is Dick" Dick drank from a sack leaning against a tree.
"Finally Ulmer the only one here better than Wanda at the bow" the man in question had dark hair and yellow beady eyes with a black cloak over his leathers.
"We are just a bunch of humble men, looking for the good of the people of this woods, while the king drinks and feast himself fat. We feed the people here and give them coin from the rich" Simon sounded like a noble outlaw from her books but with the slaughter around her she knew this was no story. She wouldn't be leaving here of that she was sure.
"Now you my ladies will fetch a handsome ransom" Simon smiled. An outlaw that was previously stealing from the dead came and walked next to Ashara.
"Oi Simon let the lads have this one we could use a little treat" he smiled with ugly teeth.
"Calm down Rags, she's highborn we need her for the coin" Wanda rolled her eyes.
"That's fine she'll be just fine, might she just stick around when me and the lads show her how a real man' cock feels" It happened so fast Elia wished she had stopped Ashara. Rags as he was called touched Ashara's behind. Ashara glared and before she could do anything drove her dirk into Rags throat.
"Don't touch me!" she growled Rags fell over chocking on steel and the other thieves angry raised their arms. Ashara took her dirk back from his neck and raised it. the smiling knight in surprising quickness grabbed Ashara's wrist with his big hand covering almost half her forearm.
"Fucking bitch!" yelled one and came for her.
"No one fucking touches her! We need her alive!" yelled Simon waving his sword around.
"Naughty little, bird you killed a loyal man" he smiled but his eyes looked thirsty.
"Smiles let her go!" Wanda growled and drew her bow aimed for his head.
"Simon she killed one of our lads!" yelled another outlaw.
"Who wanted to rape her, despite my orders" Simon reminded them.
"Rags was a whoreson anyway" Ulmer rasped trotting his horse closer to them.
"Drop the dirk little bird" the smiling knight commanded softly all the while the smile never left his scarred lips making Elia visually trembling.
"Ashara please" Elia begged, this was not the time to act foolish and her friend was letting her Dornish blood get the better of her. Ashara looked to her and pursed her lips letting the dirk drop, with the dirk gone Elia was glad it was over.
"Smiles" Wanda warned.
"Here little bird, to remind you not to be naughty" he clenched his hand Elia heard the sound of bone snapping. Ashara screamed bloody murder.
"Smiles!" yelled Wanda but Longneck silently came behind her restraining her.
"Damn it man!" Simon yelled and the knight simply let Ashara go who dropped to the ground clutching her broken wrist.
"Ashara!" Elia cried and fell to hold her friend who broke down crying. The gathered outlaws yelled in celebration. Ashara wept in pain and Elia comforted her crying friend.
"Let's go were moving out!" Simon yelled annoyed.
"What about him? Wanda asked looking at the knight.
"Cut his throat, he's dead weight" Simon ordered.
"No! Please mercy!" Elia begged, Simon looked to her hard faced.
"Our maester can heal your friend but him? He will only be a waste of our medicine" Wanda took her knife and went for Ser Albert. He glared before his eyes soften looking at Elia.
"Close your eyes my princess" he commanded her softly. Elia shook her head crying.
"Please you have seen enough" he said and Elia closed her eyes and with Ashara leaning against her sobbing. Elia also covered her ears, the sounds were faint but she heard the grunting the thud of an armored body hitting the floor. Why was this happening? Why were her countrymen dead why was this all happening? This was all she could think as they took her away with Ashara to the gods knows where.
Rhaegar
280 A.C Kings Town
Rhaegar rode besides Arthur as the small town came to view in the middle of the Kings Wood forest. The town had a wall around it standing at most twenty meters. The walls however looked thin and no sentries lined the walls. The gates were opened and an old man awaited them at the entrance. Arthur turned to Rhaegar on his horse speaking to him.
"I sent men ahead to ready for our arrival, the town elder wishes to speak to us" Rhaegar nodded to Arthur and turned behind him. To Lord Crakehall, the man nodded trotting up to him and Rhaegar gave him orders to follow.
"Lord Crakehall, lead the occupation off the town. Make sure to remind the men they will be paying for their housing, if they eat at a tavern they will pay for it as well. We aren't here as conquerors but to help rid the Woods of these outlaws" he said the Lord nodded and turned to his squires.
"Merrett, take some of the lads and hunt for game, cheaper if we hunt than buying from the smallfolk. Jaime You take twelve men and begin patrolling the Kings Road down to the Mountains." Jaime nodded and trotted away southwards and Merrett Frey went North. Rhaegar joined the old man who invited them to his home to talk and a drink. Leaving their horses they walked the town seeing the smallfolk look at them with varios degrees of feelings. From curiosity and awe from the young children to the young men who glared as if they were foreign invaders. The old folk payed them no mind and the mothes of children just ushered them to keep away from Rhaegar and his men. They reached the center of the town were the old man had his house considerably bigger than most. Inside they found a young man looking at them queerly before the old man ushered him out. The wife of the elder came and offered them wine Rhaegar politely took the cup as did Arthur.
"M'prince, M'lord welcome to our little town, I hope we can prove of service to you" the old man said. The young man that had left previously came from the upstairs he had run off to return with a cloak wrapped around something.
"I'm heading out grandad" he said and looked non too pleasing to Arthur and Rhaegar.
"Forgive me, he's my grandson he is young and full of piss viniger. He thinks highly of these outlaws" he confessed with some fear.
"Outlaws aren't to be admired, they steal unjustly and murder innocents on some occasions." Arthur said calmly.
"Aye I don't think they are hiding here, we don't like trouble m'lord we will help as best we can" the old man said drinking to their agreement. Rhaegar after all his plotting and subterfuge felt paranoid for not wanting to drink his cup. Arthur drank his first and Rhaegar followed, suit.
"Don't worry sir, we shall pay for our housing, foods and anything else necessary. We want to show we aren't oblivious to your people's pleads" Arthur said and the old man smiled slightly.
"Ah m'lord we preferred if it were sometimes, when we are indebted to highborn. We tend to pay with blood" he said wisely, and with some sorrow in his tone. They spent the rest of the meeting hammering out the details of their occupation and the surrounding villages. Down south of king Town, was two small villages up north towards the coast a small fishing village was on the Blackwater. The old man assured him these were the only settlements in the Kings Wood this side of the Kings Road. Rhaegar wanted to begin scouting and asking questions to the other settlements.
"Sir Do you have many hunters in this town?" he asked and the old man nodded in conformation.
"Gather them and send them to the inn, we shall set up our command structure there, tell them we will pay good coin for men who know these woods to lead our scouts" Rhaegar informed the old man who said he would send the best hunters of the town his way. Rhaegar nodded and walked with Arthur to the Inn the men had entered the town and were moving about with carts and other supplies being set up for their stay. Though they brought their own food, how long would they stay? Rhaegar did want to end this quickly and find Princess Elia and Lady Ashara. Entering the Inn Rhaegar and Arthur led the assembling of the men. Merrett Frey returned with game, two elk and a boar by midday. This would feed them plenty for at least a few weeks when rationed.
"Jaime hasn't returned yet…seven hells where is that boy" Lord Crakehall muttered. Rhaegar sighed hoping he didn't do anything too rash and would return soon. The town elder did as instructed and three hunters with curved bows and cloaks came. To Rhaegar's surprise one of them was a woman faired skin and blonde hair. She was appealing to the eyes to say the least and if she was among the best hunters she was something else indeed.
"M'prince these are the best hunters we have in town, Wanda, Ulmer and, Ronal" the old man introduced them and the three hunters bowed to him.
"Good, Once Ser Jaime returns we shall begin searching for the brigands." Rhaegar said and then ordered Lord Crakehall to speak to the hunters about their coin for their job. Rhaegar exited the Inn and went to the last men who knew anything of Elia and Ashara's kidnapping. Four men from the Kings Road checkpoints he had set up long ago. They found the Dornish man named Ezack wounded and bleeding riding for Kings Landing. The man suffered a head injury and could not recall the location of were the kidnapping happened, Ser Jaimie's search on the Kings Road was meant to see if any clues were left. The men were gathered by the gate acting as sentries.
"M'prince!" one of them straighten out with his spear the other three following suit along with Ezack.
"Relax I'm here to speak with Ezack" Rhaegar smiled slightly raising his hand to relax them.
"Aye m'lord what can I do for you?" he asked holding his spear.
"Can you remember anything yet?" asked Rhaegar putting a hand on the man's shoulder, he looked saddened and replied his Roynish accent shining through in his sadness.
"No m'lord, just flashes of steel and men screaming and dying, I can only remember Ser Albert, he was in-charge of us all. He treated us with alright and was a hell of a fighter" Ezack sighed the men he was with forming a friendship with him comforted their new friend in earnest and Rhaegar wondered where his own friends were.
"That's alright, I was just checking but remember if you remember anything, anything even the most trivial thing come find us" Rhaegar shook the hands of the men surprising them with the contact and grinned. Taking his leave Rhaegar spoke to the people and the men and found Arthur doing the same ensuring everyone they were there to help. The sun was its farthest west when Jaime returned with his men. He had less men six in count with him, he went straight to Rhaegar licked his lips.
"We found the Dornish party, lots of bodies left some men behind to guard the place" Rhaegar nodded briskly and gathered more men. With a part of fifteen they rode south the Kings Road at brisk speeds the cart rattling behind them. What greeted them was a sight that turned Rhaegar's stomach. The wheel house was stuck on the road, one of its wheels stolen. Then again that was beyond the only thing stolen the butchered bodies lied naked boots mail and weapons stripped from tem, even their house colors were gone.
"Bloody savages, they butcher good men and then rob the dead? The stranger take them all" Lord Crakehall said out loud.
"The strange takes his time, I rather we kill them ourselves" Jaime quipped from his horse.
"Ezack" Rhaegar asked for him and the man trotted forward next to Rhaegar in his horse.
"m'prince?" he sounded off and Rhaegar motioned for him to follow him as Rhaegar dismounted his horse.
"Come tell me if anything comes to you" Rhaegar scrunched his nose and covered it with a piece of cloth the smell of corpses was sickening. Some of the bodies as if not already butchered enough had been torn into probably by wolves and crows alike. The door to the wheel house was broken open Rhaegar ran his hand on the opened doors.
"An axe chop I think" Ezack commented and Rhaegar nodded climbing inside the wheel house to find it pilfered from all its luxuries even the pillows and the cushioned seats stripped bare. His boot knocked something when Rhaegar turned to exit and he knelt down curios. Taking the cloth from his face he picked up the book old and worn out. The Mysteries of Valyria, Rhagar's personal favorite he had read many a times. Taking the book with him Rhaegar put the cloth to his face again and stepped down from wheel house. Ezack was kneeling by a body naked with its throat cut open, one of his eyes had pecked out by a crow.
"It's Ser Ablert" Ezack said his voice low and gravely his fist clenched in anger.
"I'm sorry Ezack I know you knew him well" Rhaegar lamented to the Dornishman, he looked up to his dead countrymen shaking his head.
"We all did, Ser Albert was good to us, and didn't act like a high and mighty cunt. He drank with us laughed with us and bled with us" Ezack held his head and groaned slightly before standing.
"The whoresons even took his leather doublet, he fucking loved that doublet!" Ezack ended up yelling all the gathered men didn't deny him his grief at his dead friends.
"A girl that sweet on him patched it up once with a piece of her dress" Ezack went on looking around perhaps hoping the seven spared that doublet.
"He held it dearly saying she was a sweet girl and often he would gift her with trophies from hunts with Prince Oberyn" Ezack shook his head scrunching his face.
"I remember, aye I remember a big man, who smiled, always bloody smiling, he cut down so many of the lads and never let that smile drop." Ezack told and evryon listened intently.
"Just bloody smiling when he killed Joshy, the cunt took his head" the decapitated body was strown closer to the edge of the circle of dead bodies his head was nowhere to be found.
"Do you remember his face?" Rhaegar asked and Ezack nodded his eagerly.
"Aye I do now, m'prince and I want to kill the bastard" Ezack growled and Rhaegar would not deny him his grief and vengeance.
"You shall have your chance, now let us return to town, Lord Crakehall make sure to gather all the bodies, and take them back to bury them" Rhaegar sighed and returned to his horse, with him retunring was an escort of six men along with Jaime. This was only the beginning, the gods be good they hoped to end this soon.
Robert
280 A.C Winterfell
Ned had ridden out half mad saying they needed to double back to White Harbor. Robert convinced him of the madness and to let the horses rest for at least two days. Lord Rickard and his siblings convinced him to do so. The two would ride out in the morning so this was Roberts last chance to talk to Lyanna and confess his shame. He found her in the Godswood, praying to her old gods and Robert just thought somewhat bitter that it was some cruel irony she would be here when he was to confess. Remaining close but far enough away for her to finish Robert stared at her profile. Her brown thick hair cascade down her shoulders and framed her face, her hair free and wild as this land. Her lips full and soft and very inviting.
"Robert?" he jumped slightly he had been so lost staring at her, he didn't notice her grey eyes look at him.
"Ah forgive me my lady, I was distracted" Lyanna rolled her eyes standing up she was in a dress simple yet nothing about it diminished her natural beauty.
"Oh enough of that Robert, I have thought on it and if you insist I call you Robert than I can at least honor the kindness and beseech you call me Lyanna" she said casually enough, but Robert felt it a vicory worth the conquering of Westeros. Though that victory turned to ash as he was about to burn that bridge with his words. The gods loved their jokes after all, and their punch lines were always killers.
"Lyanna then, I must confess for I wish to be honest with you about everything" He knew she valued honesty from Ned, but when speaking to her she put quite a bit of weight to the truth. This would doubtless endear him to her, he only hoped it was enough to forgive him.
"You sound as if you murdered someone Robert, go on spit it out" she insisted raising a brow and Robert sighed.
"My Lady I brought on shame on myself and Princess Elia Martell, even after I was aware of our betrothal I bedded her" Robert said his voice tight and filled with trepidation.
"You bedded her….do you lover her?" she asked first her voice unreadable.
"Nay I do not, she was under stress and sought me for comfort I in my foolishness did not deny her" Robert confessed he did not put up much of an opposition.
"Well I suppose it is just so" Lyanna replied that cold wall he had thought he melted was up again before he could blink.
"Lyanna I swear to you I shan't do anything like this again. I was foolish I promise you" he tried and she began walking out.
"Oh fear not my Lord, you are a man do as you wish. You do not need to concern yourself about me" her use of his title hurt more than any sword that could have touched him.
"Lyanna wait!" Robert shouted and she stopped turning to him with cool courtesy.
"My Lord?" she asked and Robert scowled.
"I shall remain in this Godswood until you forgive me, I must ride with Ned on the morrow but I won't leave here until then" Robert knelt his knee hitting soft muddy ground.
"I swear on the old gods" he swore by her gods hoping if he did so she would say anything.
"I would recommend against it my Lord, it gets cold here and I believe it's to snow. Now I must go" she turned without so much as a second glance leaving him with a tight feeling in his chest. Robert found a place on the Wirewood and sat against laying his head back on the white wood. Glancing aside to the face on the tree with blood red sap spilling from its eyes Robert sighed.
"I hope you are watching, because I hope you will keep me from freezing to death out here for her" Robert sighed.
Eddard
Ned paced his rooms a second Raven arrived from Mark Ryswell, telling him he committed a hundred men to Rhaegar to help him hunt these bandits. Ser Barristan had arrived as well to Duskendale with Dontos Hollard a good weeks after Rhaegar left and then said he left the young newly knighted man in his service before riding to the Kings Wood to help Rhaegar. Ned wanted to leave but instead spent two days barely sleeping and eating sparsely thinking of Ashara. She was all in his mind treason and politics the last things in his mind, Ashara, Ashara, Ashara! Her name haunted him thoughts of her murdered haunted his dreams. Worst he feared these thieves raped her and slit her throat. The gods why did it hurt so much to know she was in danger.
"My Lord, your father is asking for you, he wishes to dine with you" Old Nan came to find.
"Thank you Nan, but I am not hungry" he said, the old woman that took care of him for so long looked to him and hummed.
"I remember when you were a wee lad Eddard," such unfamiliarity would have made another Lord angry, but to Ned it was a call to his time as a child before he left for the Vale.
"Always moping whenever something saddened you, you would refuse to eat. But I remember what got you hungry" she smiled a mischievous smile. He was a man grown, this bribe hardly worked on him now, but none the less Old Nan left his rooms and returned a few moments later from the kitchen with a cup of wine. He wouldn't think himself a bad child when he was young but Brandon would always boast father let him drink wine to him and Lyanna. Ned had gotten mopey about his brothers teasing and Old Nan got him to drink sneaking him a cup of wine. Smiling Ned took the offered cup and chuckled, drinking it.
"I'll be there shortly, will Robert be joining us?" he asked her returning the cup.
"No my Lord, your friend seems to have pledge to the gods to freeze in the Godswood" Ned blinked confused.
"What?" he said unsure?
"Check the Godswood my Lord, your friend should be there, I took him a blanket so he would at least not freeze." Old Nan excused herself and left him alone. Ned sighed and put his fur cloak on walking out of his rooms to find Robert. When he crossed the courtyard of Winterfell snow had already started to fall. He found Robert as Old Nan said, under the White Wirewood huddling against its trunk to keep from the snow shivering under the sheet he was given.
"Ned? Gods man why is your country so bloody cold" Robert said through chattering teeth.
"So the wall doesn't melt" he said a Northman jape that made Robert chuckle.
"Well I think it can handle one damn day with the sun" he grumbled and Ned stepped around the pond to seat with next to Robert.
"What happened Robert" he asked.
"What do you think?" he questioned looking at him as if he were a fool.
"Right you told her" Ned said unsurprised Lyanna was quick to anger and Robert who had endeared himself to her was now feeling that cold wrath she held for those that earned her contempt.
"She didn't forgive me Ned" Robert said and Ned noticed his ears were red thanks to the cold. Ned reached up and moved his hair to fall over his sides.
"That will help you to keep those ears, and give her time, you didn't expect her to just forgive you over a few hours?" Ned said.
"Aye, but we won't be here longer I have to leave and she will hate me, gods why in the damn seven hells does this have to happen now?" Robert grumbled, Ned flinched he wasn't exactly happy about this either.
"I'm sorry, she'll be okay Ned they want coin harming her wouldn't make them coin" Robert spoke reason but it did not make him feel any less worried.
"Aye I know, but I still want to see her unharmed Robert" Ned replied and Robert shifted under his blanket sighing out a puff of cold air.
"Well we will ride on the morrow just try to rest, one of us should rest comftarbly tonight. Robert sighed through chattering teeth. Ned smiled slightly his friend was going to length he didn't believe him capable for Lyanna, he wondered now if it was because of him or Lyanna he was doing this, grinning Ned stood and took his fur cloak off his shoulders.
"Here you'll be needing this more than I do" Ned grinned and Robert nodded thanking him as Ned helped him put the cloak over him. Ned left and joined his father, in the great hall for lunch sitting by his father and Brandon Ned dug in his hunger from the past days getting to him.
"Ah good you're here Eddard, come eat" his father looked visibly brighter to have him there.
"Thank you father, where is Lyanna?" Ned asked, Brandon nudge him to show her entering and joining them with Benjin.
"Lyanna have you seen Robert?" Ned tried and she looked to him shrugging uninterested.
"I can't say I have Ned" Lyanna clearly lied, Ned suppressed a sigh and drank from his cup of wine continuing eating.
"So father, Ned is heading down south tomorrow" Brandon started.
"You wish to go down south?" his father grinned in his cup.
"Aye father glory to win! Think of it Brigands kidnap noble ladies and there I am along with the crown prince!" Brandon smirked, Ned laughed shaking his head. Brandon always made him feel better about bad situations, his brother had been the one to comfort him and told him the Vale was a land worth to be shown a Northmans worth.
"You only want to bash brains Bran" Ned chuckled.
"Oh don't hog all the glory Ned, I am the eldest what will people think if I sit here and let my brother get all the glory?" Ned rolled his eyes.
"Will you have your brother Ned?" his father asked and Ned thought on it, Brandon was a great sword and he didn't really have much going on in the North. Still his brother was wild and he didn't know if he could follow Rhaegar' orders.
"Aye father, I would be honored to fight by my brother" Ned put a had on Brandon's shoulder and his brother grinned.
"Good, go down with Ned but after you finish your business go to Riverrun and pay a visit to Lady Catelyn and Lord Hoster Tully.
"Aye father" his brother looked less enthusiastic about that. Lady Catelyn from what he heard was a sweet girl and kind. Then again Lyanna told him his brother was often seen with Lady Barbrey Ryswell. Though she was betrothed to William Dustin a good friend to Brandon. Ned hoped his brother was thinking with his head and not his cock.
"Good you both ride tomorrow when the sun rises, don't forget to rest" His father said and Brandon gulped his wine down and left to his own devices. His excitement contagious to the servants who cheered for him when he asked for it.
"I will leave you my children, I'm getting bloody old I need to use the privy" their father excused himself and left him and Lyanna alone.
"Lya why are you angry?" Ned asked her.
"I don't know what you are talking about Ned" she said sniffing in offense.
"Well that boar was when they served it to you, stabbing it more won't kill it again" Lyanna blinked and looked to her plate she had viciously picked her meat apart with her knife.
"I'm not hungry anymore" she stood ready to leave.
"Lyanna stop that" Ned stood with her and she turned angry at him.
"He bedded another woman! He didn't even love her Ned! He just fucked for pleasure" Lyanna glared baring her teeth.
"Did he tell you what happened?" Ned asked.
"What does it matter he probably lied to me" she said and Ned repeated his question with steel in his tone.
"What did he tell you Lya" she shifted and turned to Ned arms crossed.
"That she sought him out and, that he was sorry for not turning her down in his foolishness" Lyanna said with derision towards Robert.
"It isn't a lie Lya" Ned said.
"You would say that for your friend" Lyanna tried to say.
"I would say because Ashara told me what Princess Elia told her" before he had left Dorne Ashara had told him what happened before Robert confessed.
"Why should I believe that" Now that stung him deeply. Ned straighten out and didn't respond sitting back down.
"I'm sorry I-Ned he bedded another woman why should I believe him when he says he shan't do so again?" Lyanna apologized to him. Ned was quiet before sighing and replying to her, in truth Robert was acting like he never had seen him, for all his failings Robert was loyal. He loved him and Rhaegar fiercly and without a thought charged an enemy keep to save his friends father. Yet with Lyanna he was actively being un-Robert. He was trying to do things her way not his own way, Robert was never like that.
"Do you wish me to answer truly?" Ned leaned forward on the table.
"You are the only one I ever trusted to do so" Lyanna replied.
"Robert is in love with you" Ned's reply was simple and to the point never one to mince words.
"Ned he barely knows me" Lyanna insisted.
"Yet he is freezing out there until you forgive him" Ned shrugged drinking more of his wine.
"If that were true how did he get a blanket" Lyanna said, before blushing embarrassed.
"So you checked up on him" grinned Ned.
"He can't very well freeze out there his father would be calling for our blood" Lyanna tried defending her actions.
"Lyanna give him a chance, I know what he did is wrong but he is truly sorry for his actions, tomorrow we leave and who knows what might happen. These brigands are bold and have killed many, life is full of chances, you never know when the gods call our name" Ned took some food Ned began to exit the Great Hall.
"What are you doing with that?" she asked.
"Can't have him starve either" Ned said simply and left taking the food to Robert and left Lyanna alone to think. He went to the Godswood, and found Robert this time looking slightly better his beard crusted with snow his lips chapped. Kneeling he offered his friend the food and Robert hopped to it eating it.
"Thank you Ned, my damn innards were eating themselves" Robert ate and Ned looked up it was dark and the hour was growing late.
"Well can't let you die out here, I need you to save Ashara" Ned smiled.
"Hah here I thought it was because you were my brother" Robert grumbled but grinned.
"Ah your pleasant enough Robert, but I must leave you, its ploughing cold out here. If you need me I'm going to sleep in my rooms, with a warm hearth and thick furs.
"Cunt" Robert grumbled and Ned laughed taking the plate and cup from Robert. Ned went to his rooms and with his heart filled with merriment, Ned slept soundly until early morning, the sun was just peeking from the horzon. Ned grabbed in his leathers walked to the Godswood to meet Robert and see him with Old Nan who brought him a change of clothes to his leathers. Robert looked, haggard and visibly sore.
"How did you sleep?" Robert grunted as he stretched his bones popping.
"Better than you" Ned assured him and took his cloak back from Robert.
"The hounds slept better than me" Robert rolled his shoulders and they walked out to their horses and supplies set. Brandon was there already waiting for them. His father as well joined them and with him was Ice, their ancestral Valyrian sword. His father gave it to Brandon telling him to remember to represent House Stark.
"Why not tell it to Ned too father?" Brandon smirked.
"Because he already has his head screwed on tight" his father smirked back and they laughed Robert joining in it.
"Well, farewell father I hope when I visit next it will be with Ashara" his father smiled.
"I shall look forward to it Eddard, return victorious my sons" His father turned and walked out. Riding out to the main Southern of Winterfell, Ned looked ahead and prayed to the old gods they safeguard Ashara.
"Oi Robert" Brandon spoke and Ned turned with his horse to see Lyanna walked to them she was in her blue dress her favorite one with blue rose patterns sown on it.
"I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to my brothers" Ned smiled a little, and Brandon dismounted hugging their sister and so did Ned.
"Good luck, and make sure Brandon doesn't do anything too stupid" Lyanna said.
"Aye I will" Ned grinned and and Brandon laughed heartedly.
"Gods you two think me a child, well come on lets go" Brandon said and adjusted Ice across his back and mounted his horse.
"To you as well, be careful and come back… Robert" Lyanna said, her face changed somewhat she wasn't smiling but she didn't have her usual cold demeanor she adopted with Robert when she first met him. Robert for one smiled like a bloody fool.
"Aye my Lady, I would make another promise to you" Robert proclaimed.
"I" Lyanna began but Robert barreled through her.
"Once I return and we are to wed I promise you to teach you proper swordplay" Lyanna blinked and then laughed a sweet sound to be true and shook her head.
"Oh you are a fool, but you held your word and slept in the Godswood until today, I shall accept." The gates opened and they turned their horses to ride out.
"Robert!" Lyanna called out as the doors closed.
"Just call me Lyanna" she reminded him and turned without another word the gates closing behind him. The entire ride down to White Harbor Robert smiled like a madman.
Alright! Next chapter down and I have to say I think my Elia POV is my best work yet! Don't get me wrong I try my hardest to out due myself each chapter but man that POV I just felt my creative juices POUR from my head! Each word came to me as if it was meant to be typed down! Man, also holy shit Rhaegar watch out! The brigands are right under your nose!
Oh man and the smiling knight I hope I was able to put down just how fucked up this guy is, the Mountain I a rapist drunk who murders whoever he wants. The Smiling Knight was described twice as mad so I'm just assuming his smiling nature and the scars I put on him is why people called him the smiling knight. That and he loves killing and causig pain….like Ramsy before Ramsy existed only less cunty and more psychopathic killer.
The Kingswood Brotherhood ladies and gentlemen make their appearance! Also we introduce Jaime I mean sure I introduced him earlier but here's a bit more of him, he'll be showing up more next chapter. But more on that when I get to it, I hope you guys enjoy his wit as I try hard to keep up with his cannon smart ass comments. Oh also I got it every chapter of the Kingswood will start with a POV from Ashara and Elia to see their end of the situation! I hope they are interesting in their tribulations with being hostages to brigands. Not to mention I really wanted an excuse for a battle though this one was way more tamed, considering it was from Elia's POV and she wasn't there to see the carnage. Soon my friends soon I will get to feed our lust for blood and midlevel battle worthy of the words steel and blood.
Now to answer some questions from last reviews.
TheLastEnclave: Teleporting devices by Littleifinger patent pending! I did put that they were kidnapped in the Kings Road on Rhaegar's chapter, besides do you really want me to ride every freaking march? Cuz that would be kind of boring idk I doub't you want to hear about setting up camp and small talk to pass the time lol.
Waylandcorp 4: I'm glad you think I got everyone right I'm happy to hear! This chapter shows you Lyanna and Roberts awaited confrontation about his indiscretion, I wouldn't say she quite forgave him, but she did acknowledge that he kept his word about spending the night in the Godswood without leaving it. So if nothing else she's considering it.
Alright lads you know the drill READ AND REVIEW LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! Comments concerns critiques I love talking to you guys! You are my inspiration to keep me going.
Valar Marghulis all men must die…