Eddard XI
'You were staring at it for the past hour, Ned. Is everything alright?' Voice asked as he looked at the running water of the river where almost twenty thousand died not even a year ago.
War, Eddard still remembered it as if it ended just a day past. Blood, cries and deaths of friends and foes alike came to his mind. There was nothing good that came out of it, not even revenge felt good. He could still remember the body of Rhaegar Targaryen laying in one of the tents as Silent sisters began their work on it, right after the battle during which Robert smashed open Rheagar's chest with his warhammer. Revenge was supposed to feel good, but in the end it was just a fact. His family was avenged, and that was it. 'And more than a hundred thousand people died in the meantime, mostly those that had nothing to do with the war other than proximity. Men, women and children.' Voice added.
"All that will remain after all those that died during the war will be the name of this place. Ruby Ford, a place where rubies that dotted Rheagars chestplace were scattered across the river bed. Deaths will be forgotten and only deeds will remain." Eddard spoke to no one in particular, not to his fellow travel companions sitting a horse around him or to Voice itself. They understood, none of them spoke back, or dared to.
"Let's go, I wasted enough sunlight reminiscing the past." With that he spurred his horse and led it forward through the ford, they still had a long way to King's Landing. He tried not to think of all the bodies they buried all in these lands.
"Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North!" A caller called and trumpeters played their trumps as he walked into the throne room. Hundreds of people were present, lining the sides of the massive hall. Some, he knew but the most… strangers clothed in all the colors that he knew existed with herbs he never saw and maesters didn't bother him to learn. All of them snakes, hoping to gain something with fake smiles and fake words.
"Your grace." Eddard knelt before the steps which led to the Iron Throne upon which sat Robert Baratheon in all his glory. Jon Arryn was to his right, with the emblem signaling his position as Hand of the King shining as sunlight reflected from it. To Robert left was Hoster Tully, Master of Laws, ready to take over the ruling if Robert ever so wished.
"Rise, Ned." Robert's voice boomed as he stood up, soon after he descended the warped burned metal chair that so many coveted. As he arrived before Eddard the man lunged and embraced Eddard in a brotherly way.
It was theatric, Eddard knew, a way to send a message through the hundreds that looked on. Ned himself cared nothing for it, but knew that it was needed for Robert, to make sure people remember that he had supporters where it mattered. Eddard himself just wanted food for his people and gold for their wellbeing, he would allow Robert thinking of him as his brother if only for the Crown's support. At that moment Eddard felt no different than all the snakes that looked on. A simple thought appeared, making him think if there were others like him, actually caring about the people in their lands.
"Good-son." Hoster spoke as he poured wine into the goblet and handed it over to Ned, who in the meantime sat down.
"Good-father." He greeted the father of his wife, yet the title he gave the man felt ill spoken. The man entered the war in trade for good marriages for both of daughter's, just to save his family position. 'How desperate he must have felt back then. Imagine sending one daughter to a barbaric North and second to a man whose wives are dying one after another. Just how weak his station in the Riverlands really is, or was?' Eddard agreed on the thought. "I have heard of problems in Mallister lands." Eddard grabbed the goblet and put it down on the desk, he was here for business.
Hoster sighed, clearly tired from the issue already. "Few villages were put to the sword by 'brigands'. The Crown decided to send some men to help deal with them." The idea was simple, work on the road would not start if villages around it were burned every now and then. Freys knew it, Hoster knew it, everyone knew it, especially Ned.
'Nothing was done then.' Voice spoke, Eddard nodded, seemingly to Hoster yet it was directed towards the Voice. The riverman continued after drinking some wine. "Robert, nor Jon don't want to create unneeded tensions by going officially after Freys, it wouldn't look good for the start of his reign, and the Handship of Jon." The man took another sip of his wine.
In the end they could do nothing about Freys. If Walder were to be erased from the equation, the Twins would descend into a succession crisis that could last for years and block the main land access to Riverlands from the North for years. Sending 'brigands' into Frey lands was not something Ned was willing to do, both for possible trade problems and moral reasons. Walder would never accept bribes for not interfering in the road construction since the road itself would decrease the standing and wealth of his family for generations. Lastly the Crown refrained from any major involvement due to fear of upsetting the peace, nor would it allow for Ned or Hoster to do so themselves. All they could do was wait and keep it in the hands of Hoster himself, the man had more hope for the south/north road that went through the western side of the Neck than Ned himself. The work on the road would need to start from Mallister lands and move north.
After an hour of planning with Hoster, Ned took the goblet he set down at the beginning and drank all the wine in one go. Eddard left the Master of Laws study soon after.
It was evening already. The court was dismissed and the Throne room became empty once again, though it was like this for the first time for Ned. He had heard the story from multiple mouths, his father, Rickard Stark demanded a trial by combat, which the Mad King Aerys accepted, he then called fire as his champion. His father was tied over the pyre of wildfire, and his son, Ned's brother Brandon strapped to a device meant to choke him, a sword that could save him and his father right outside his reach. They both died, they both screamed and they both cried. There was no soot, Eddard noticed as he stared at the floor.
"I saw it, you know." Jaime Lannister spoke from "Your father…"
Ned stopped him. "I heard the story a dozen times. Aerys was mad, Aerys burned people alive, Aerys died. There is nothing more to talk about." Heir of Casterly Rock came closer and stopped not a few feet away from Lord of Winterfell. The boy, or rather a young man, had a golden armor with golden lions of Casterly Rock all over it.
"No one moved. Everyone stood and watched in fear. One word, one wrong look and one might share the fate of your Lord father." Jaime spoke quietly, the empty hall made him sound more grown than he really was. Silence reigned over two of them, Eddard knew not what to say and Jaime… he didn't know what Jaime thought about him or his fathers death. The man could be mad at him for all he knew. 'Well, he certainly doesn't look happy, then again, he is a Lannister and they never do.' Ned almost cracked a smile at the Voice jape, it wouldn't look good to laugh in Jaime's face.
Clanking of steel made them look at the source of the sound. Ser Barristan Selmy, a knight of the Kingsguard approached them before speaking. "Lord Stark. Ser Jaime." The man bowed slightly to both of them. Eddard and Jaime answered in kind. "Forgive me for interrupting, but Lord Eddard's presence is required in a small council room." Jaime nodded at both men and took his leave, leaving Ser Barristan and Ned alone. "If you would, Lord Stark." The man spoke, wanting for Eddard to follow after him. He did so.
The small council room was the goal of their travel, yet when the doors were opened, Ned could see that it wasn't a meeting just between him and Robert. The room was filled with people of importance, an important matter had to be on hand. Given the victory tournament and festivities alongside the marriage of Cersei Lannister to Robert Baratheon most of the kingdom came over. Aside from Robert and Ned themselves, Tywin Lannister, Mace Tyrell, Hoster Tully, Jon Arryn, Stannis Baratheon and Master of Whisperers Varys were present. The only two missing were Balon Greyjoy and Doran Martell.
As Eddard sat, the meeting started. "Speak Varys, tell them everything." The King ordered the Master of Whisperers to which the man nodded. In the meantime Voice spoke something inside Ned's head that made him almost choke. 'I think he is a Blackfyre.' 'What?!' He shouted inside his mind, but before Voice could explain Varys began speaking.
"Viserys Targaryen together with his sister, Daenerys was spotted in Braavos. My informant claims that Ser Willem Darry is protecting them, Sealord of Braavos is aware of their presence and most likely watching over them." Ned took a glimpse of Robert during Varys' speech, the man was clenching his teeth, no doubt intent on harming the children. "According to the information they bought a house inside Braavos and hired servants, they seemingly have no plans of moving and enough gold to last them years."
Silence reigned over the group, most waited for Robert to speak, yet it was Jon Arryn who began. "The matter was already discussed at the Small Council meeting, yet seeing as there was no uniform decision we decided to invite both you, Lord Lannister and Lord Stark to advise us." 'Wanna bet Robert wanted them dead and everyone else voted against him, but it turned out you cannot outvote the King?' Eddard could guess what happened without Voice input. "Decisions considered were… assassination, to protect the stability of the realm that could threaten war with Bravoos or not interfering as long as Sealord of Braavos is overseeing the Targaryens." Not even one formal approach, Eddard noticed. Jon Arryn looked at Eddard first.
He kept it short. "Braavos could blockade all trade done by sea from White Harbour to Storms' End for years with us not being able to act against it in any notable way as our navy is almost non-existent on this side of Westeros. I am supporting letting the matter go." Eddard cared more about blockade and the loss it would bring to the North than the kids in truth, but even if Braavos had no ships or barely any, he would still act against assassination, it was just wrong to him.
Tywin Lannister cared even less about the matter. "I agree with Lord Stark." Robert's grimace became even more noticeable, Eddard decided not to speak to him that day. The rest of the meeting spoke of minor things, Ned tried to steer it once towards the Mallister lands being burned down with Hoster support but to no matter. The Crown took its stance.
I would greatly appreciate your help in "motivating" me to write more, by making me notice that it's not just a mere hobby anymore… Repeat after me Pat~~ Re~~ On~~ /BadderWriter ~~ There are no advance chapters! Say NO to paywall locking advance chapters of mediocre fanfics!