Chapter 4- To King's Landing Part 2
Eventually, the royal caravan stopped at a nice country side hill perfect for resting, swimming, and hunting for all who wanted to relax from the long hard road to King's Landing. Ned and Robert were lounging around eating some food the servant prepared for them. It was one of those rare moments for both men, as they got to let down their guard, and simply enjoy life after years of conflict and painful memories had controlled a good portion of their lives. As for Arya and Sansa, they were out by the lake enjoying one of their now rare sister moments together.
"God, this is Country. This is the life, isn't it Ned. No Iron Throne. No guards watching me every time I'm out. No real worries to hold me down like my wife or those brats I call children. Especially Joffrey. Hell, I have half a mind to leave them all behind right here and now," remarked Robert with Ned letting out a chuckle.
"I have half a mind to go with you," commented Ned with a sigh escaping him.
"What do you say Ned? Just you and me on the King's Road, swords at our side, a couple of tavern wenches to warm our beds every night?" offered Robert with Ned laughing at the offer itself.
"If you had asked me 20 years ago and there were no wars to fight, yes I would. But right now? Not a chance," replied Ned with a chuckle and Robert returned it.
"Aye, there were wars to fight, women to marry. We never really had a chance in life to be young with all that we did," added Robert with a sad tone in his voice now.
"I recall a few chances," remarked Ned with Robert smirking a bit.
"I swear if I wasn't King you would have hit me already," commented Robert while Ned just smirked back.
"That was the worse thing about your coronation. Now I'll never be able to hit you again when its deserved," replied Ned with a laugh though now Robert didn't return it.
"Trust me Ned, that's not the worst thing," countered Robert before handing Ned a note.
"When did this arrive for you?" asked Ned while he unrolled it and read the contents within.
"There was a rider late last night. I didn't read it until morning. Now I wish I hadn't read it at all," answered Robert with Ned looking surprised.
"Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dorthraki Horse Lord. What of it? Should we send her a wedding gift?" asked Ned like it wasn't anything serious.
"Aye, a knife perhaps. A good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it into her back!" said Robert angrily at the idea of someone with Targaryen blood still alive.
"She a little more then a child Robert," protested Ned with Robert glaring at him now.
"Now maybe, but soon enough that child will become a woman, and will soon start spreading her legs for that Dorthraki Horse Lord to start breeding out heirs," countered Robert with his anger rising with each passing second.
"Please tell me we are not speaking of this," said Ned with smiles and happiness leaving his face with one of concern.
"Oh, its unspeakable to you. What her Father did to your family...that was unspeakable Ned. What Rheagar Targaryen did to your sister, the woman I loved...I'll kill every last Targaryen I get my hands on!" replied Robert angrily at the idea of one member of that House still being alive.
"But you can't get your hands on this one Targaryen...can you?" questioned Ned with Robert shaking his head no.
"This Khal Drogo...it is said he has 100,000 men in his hoard. And its growing," replied Robert angrily.
"Even a million Dorthraki are no threat to the realm. As long as they remain on the other side of the narrow sea...they have no ships Robert. They don't go where their horses can't or won't walk," said Ned to Robert, but the King was not convinced.
"There are still those in the Seven Kingdoms who still call me Usurper. If and when the Targaryen boy crosses with a Dorthraki hoard at his back, the scum will join him. Give him council. Give him ships to sail the narrow sea with that damn horde to get here," said Robert bitterly.
"He will not cross the Narrow Sea, Robert. And if by some chance he does, we will throw them back into the water to watch them drown," said Ned with confidence they could fight such odds and it managed to make Robert's anger decline slightly.
"There is a war coming, Ned. I don't know when, I don't know who will be fighting, but its coming. By the Gods its coming," said Robert while frowning in frustration.
Neither man noticed Naruto sitting on a tree branch in a tree not far from them and heard their entire conversation.
'If you only knew Robert. I would tell you about what I know and learned, but I can't trust you to keep that temper of yours in check. In fact, half the news I know surrounding your wife could probably cause you to have a heart attack. For now, I have to keep those cards close to my heart,' thought Naruto sadly since he wanted the man to know, but sometimes telling the truth hurt more then hiding it.
(Winterfell-That Night)
Catelyn Tully Stark sat by her son's bed, weaving good luck prayer charms to speed up her son's awakening, and hoping it would be soon. While she did not doubt the Sage's power, she feared for her son all the same, and did not wish for anything evil to strike at Bran in his weakened state. Naruto had assured them that Bran would awaken soon and everyone had to be patient for when he inevitably did wake up. Robb had come in a few moments ago to get his Mother to her own bed to sleep, but the Tully woman was a very proud, and stubborn woman who refused to leave Bran's side for an instant.
Not surprising since Catelyn Stark was a determined woman when pushed and was not going to simply wait elsewhere, and leave her precious child she brought into the world undefended in this perilous time. The two guards outside had recently been rotated out with two fresh ones and Bran's unnamed dire wolf was under the bed watching things from its hidden position should someone get past them. She didn't know how her son's dire wolf got so big in such a short time or how the other did too for that matter. But the Tully born woman was actually glad to have such a beast watching over her son and would remind herself not to complain about them to Ned when she next saw him.
"Fire! Fire in the stables!" yelled someone outside and the alarm sounded.
"Damn! Stay here with Bran. I'll be right back," said Robb while rushing out the door to help the servants get water to fight the flame before it spread.
When this happened, the hired assassin sent by Jamie Lannister entered the room after quietly knocking out the guards while under the disguise of a servant, and entered the room to see his target on the bed. Moving quickly with an extremely expensive dagger in hand. What he didn't see was a shocked, but determined Catelyn Tully Stark moving to stop the assassin from ending her son's life. Unfortunately, the surprise intervention by her was only temporary, as the assassin easily overpowered Catelyn, and threw her to the ground.
"So the boy's bitch of a Mother tries to save him. If only I had more time, I would fuck you after killing him. Maybe show you what a real man is like instead of your husband. Maybe I will and attempt to make a bastard baby with you," remarked the assassin with a cruel grin on his face as he grabbed Catelyn and put the blade to her throat.
"I'll never let you kill Bran or violate my body!" said Catelyn defiantly despite his grip on her and the dagger pressed against her throat.
"Ha! That's rich. You would be surprised what a guy like me can do," the assassin evilly whispered in Catelyn's ear.
"Hodor! Hodor!" exclaimed an angry Hodor from behind the assassin, who turned to see the normally gentle giant storm into the room looking extremely angry.
The distraction was all Catelyn needed, as she bit into the assassin's hand, and made the man cry out in pain. Needing to focus his attention onto the giant man behind him, the assassin threw Catelyn off of him by punching her in the face, and turned fully to face Hodor. But in doing so, the assassin missed the movement of Bran's dire wolf moving from around the bed, and let out a surprise yell of pain when said dire wolf sunk its teeth into his leg. Looking down, the Lannister man paid to kill Bran Stark moved to stab the dire wolf with his dagger, but once again failed to see movement, and from the front this time. Hodor had moved forward the second the four legged predator bit into the assassin's leg. The immensely strong and usually gentle giant of a man that was Hodor had quickly grabbed the weapon held hand by the wrist and easily crushed it. All the while grabbing the now in pain assassin by the throat and lifting him off the ground.
By this point, Robb had come into the room with armed men after hearing the cries of pain coming from the room after getting the fire under control. Fearing the worst, the new Lord of Winterfell had some of his most trusted men rush to Bran's room, and saw Hodor was faithfully defending his Mother and brother from the assassin while Bran's dire wolf kept its mouth on the attacker's leg.
"Restrain that man. We need him alive for questioning. Hodor, release him!" commanded Robb moving to where his Mother lay on the ground with Hodor obeying while the men grabbed the assassin to bind his hands.
Eventually, Bran's dire wolf let go of man after seeing he was no longer a threat, and was brought to his knees while Robb set his Mother in a nearby chair. With his Mother safe, Robb Stark drew his sword, and pressed it against his brother's assassin's throat with a glare worthy of one his Father could produce against his enemies.
"You think you can threaten me, boy?! You are not your Father. You are not a wolf. You are a pup! A mere green behind the ears pup who thinks himself a strong man without his daddy here to hold his hand. But we both know differently. If your Father were still here, I would be dead, and his son properly defended," goaded the assassin with Robb snarling and almost moved to take the man's head off if not for his Mother.
"Robb no! We need him alive. He's baiting you. He wants you to kill him," said Catelyn knowing this man would eventually talk under torture and knew this man didn't want to give away his employer's name.
"Shut your mouth you Tully cunt. Or I will break free from these bindings and give yours a descent workout your husband couldn't!" threatened the man before finding an armored fist aimed at his face and knocking him out cold.
"Get that leg of his patched up enough so he won't die before putting him in a cell. I want this man under guard at all times. I want answers on who hired him and by the Old Gods and the New, I will get them from this filth," commanded Robb with the men in the room nodding and dragging the bleeding man out of the room.
"Hodor! Hodor!" exclaimed Hodor before picking up the dagger and showing it to Robb in earnest with the man taking it from the mini giant.
"Thank you Hodor. Words cannot express how much your actions man to House Stark," said Catelyn before she hugged him and gave the man a kiss on the cheek.
H-Hodor!" said Hodor before he bowed humbly and blushing a bit at the show of thanks given to him by the Lady of House Stark before he left a happy man.
"This dagger is expensive. Look at the design. Valyrain steel and dragon bone hilt. There are too few and too expensive to be in the hands of an assassin like that. Someone with a great deal of money wanted Bran silenced," commented Robb knowing it was Valyrain steel due to his Father's sword Ice being made of the same metal as the blade of this very expensive dagger.
"This only proves my suspicions further Robb. I know the Lannisters are behind this most recent attack," said Catelyn with Robb looking unsure, but given how everything seemed to happen upon the arrival of the royal family, and the majority of them being Lannister men from the start...it was still a strong possibility.
"We shouldn't discuss this here. The walls have both eyes and ears, even here" said Robb before he ordered double the guard around Bran's room and told his brother's dire wolf to keep doing its job in protecting Bran.
The dire wolf had no problem with that.
Catelyn had gathered up all the most loyal members of House Stark she could trust to tell her suspicions too about the Lannisters. This group's members consisted of Robb, Theon, Maester Luwin, and Ser Rodrik with the location of the secret meeting being at the lake. After explaining the reason for the meeting and who she believed was behind it, most of the group looked skeptical since they didn't want to believe someone would do that to a child, much less one of the possible Heirs to House Stark, the North, and to Winterfell as a whole.
Still, the coincidence over the fact this all happened when the royal caravan arrived, and now this shortly after they left was something they couldn't ignore. Added the fact the dagger itself, held by the assassin hired to do it was something only a Lannister could truly afford, much less give to another to use was another thing they couldn't ignore, and hit home for this concerned group.
"Someone tried to kill him. Not once, but twice! Why, why murder an innocent child in such a way unless he saw something he wasn't meant to see," said Catelyn with the others thinking over her words in their heads.
"Saw what milady?" asked Theon curiously.
"I don't know, but I would stake my life that the Lannisters are involved in this. I imagine even now they have reason to suspect our loyalty to the Crown. Even more so now with the Sage accompanying the King back to King's Landing at Ned's request," said Catelyn though she wasn't going to hold that against Naruto due to his beliefs on certain matters which were the same as her own.
Namely the killing of innocent women and children regardless of the blood and parents they possessed.
"I showed the dagger to our blacksmith. He agrees the dagger is some of the finest quality ever made as far as daggers go. Not to mention such a dagger of Valyrain steel is too high in price to be bought by some low level assassin," said Maester Luwin with the others now nodding.
"Someone gave him that dagger. Clearly whoever gave the assassin the dagger wanted Bran dead with the weapon itself made to be a warning to House Stark to leave the other unknown House alone. Whoever hired this assassin clearly knows if not suspects we know their identity. No doubt the same person who tried to push him out of the window at the top of the tower," said Rodrik while Catelyn nodded.
"Speaking of our would-be assassin, how has he held up in the cell against our version of Stark hospitality?" asked Robb with a seething look in his eyes.
"He's held his tongue for now. But make no mistake, the man will soon learn it is not nice to upset the wolves within their own den," replied Rodrik with many of the men within Winterfell itching to take a crack at the man who tried to assassinate young Bran.
To hurt a child was unforgiveable in their eyes and Bran was a boy with such a thirst for knowledge and life itself. Oh yes, the wolves of Winterfell were out for blood, and they would take it one way or another.
"My Father should know of this. A rider or raven could be sent to reach him," said Robb since his Father was going to be surrounded by Lannister men at King's Landing.
"I do not trust a raven to carry these words. It could be intercepted and read by Lannister agents and used against Ned while he's in King's Landing. I will go myself," said Catelyn with Robb shaking his head.
"I should go Mother. You are a bigger target," replied Robb while his Mother shook her head.
"No. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. Bran and Rickon are too young to take up the title in your stead, even if I or Maester Luwin were here to guide them. Jon is at the Wall right now and inspecting it before sending a report to you and your Father on its condition. It has to be me," said Catelyn with the others not liking this.
"I will go with you milady. While I doubt anyone would dare harm you, there are those with greed overpowering common sense within their mind," said Rodrik with Catelyn nodding in agreement.
"What about Bran?" asked Robb since his brother would awaken soon.
"He will awaken soon enough if what the Sage told us is indeed correct. The man has not led us astray when it comes to his intervention in matters. Still, until he awakens, the boy is in a dangerous state of vulnerability," said Luwin and Robb nodded.
"Robb, keep the remaining dire wolves within the walls of Winterfell, and have them all stick close to main area of the castle or near Bran's room. Theon, look for anyone coming or going from Winterfell until further notice. Look for anything suspicious, even if it isn't suspicious looking. I won't have anymore attacks by would-be assassins who are hiding under our very nose," said Catelyn with both men nodding.
"Should I tell Jon of what we discovered?" asked Robb with Catelyn shaking her head no to his question.
"No. Not until he comes down from the Wall. IF he comes down from the Wall. I know Jon was interested in taking the Black and joining the Night's Watch. Let him do what he wishes before sending such news to him. With any luck and the Will of the Gods, we can get this matter handled quietly enough," said Catelyn since she didn't want Jon to lose his own temper that was a mixture of Stark and Targaryen at this point in time before doing something rash.
The temper of a wolf and dragon. A deadly combination to be sure.
(Crossroads Inn-Sometime Later)
The royal caravan was almost to King's Landing. This was the last stop before they made their way into the massive city where the central power of all the Seven Kingdoms was located. Where all the kingdoms from Dorne to Bravos to North, South, East, West, and South based lands of Westeros bowed before the King of King's Landing. Where the Iron Throne sat and the one the King himself would sit in when handling the affair of his court everyday.
Well...when he wasn't busy drinking and whoring himself into an early grave.
As they stopped here, Naruto chose to walk through the woods in the surrounding area, and enjoying the feeling of nature in the warmer weather. Much better weather then what was in the North right now, even if it was a "Summer Winter", and not an actual Winter like the days of old.
The coldest ones were the worst. Always the worst.
As he walked, he came across Arya fencing with a wooden sword against the butcher's boy Mycah, and the two were having fun. It wasn't serious fencing. Just too children both having fun and pretending in their own way about what it would be like to wield a sword in a fight. Arya was winning actually despite never being truly trained with sword and had a fierceness in her worthy of being called a wolf. It was clear to the old Sage that Arya had a strong spirit not meant to be held down by normal society and the standards regarding what a woman "should be" over what she "could be" in life.
'She has inherited her aunt Lyanna's fire and zest for life. Poor Catelyn will get grey hairs sooner then later when it comes to Arya. Ha!' thought Naruto with amusement before it quickly soured when he saw Sansa walking with Joffrey of all people into the area and knew instantly things were going to go bad.
He didn't need his Uzumaki sensory abilities to see the emotions oozing out of Joffrey's green eyes. The boy had a wicked look in them that just screamed sadist. Naruto should know since Roose Bolton's bastard Ramsey Snow was the same way long before the two came to his home seeking his power. He just wished Sansa would see it and not be so blinded by Joffrey's "good looks" or the fact the brat was a Prince. Just because you were a Prince didn't mean shit to the outside world unless you had the muscle to back up your authority.
"You there! You're the butcher's boy Mycah, correct?" asked Naruto while coming into the clearing and making himself known and stopping Joffrey from doing whatever he planned to do.
"Y-Yes my Lord," replied Mycah nervously at the sight of the three eyes masked Sage coming toward them since even the smallfolk had heard of the Demon Sage.
"I'm not a Lord so you don't have to address me as such. I came to tell you to head back to your Father to prepare for tonight's feast. After all, its not everyday you prepare for a King," said Naruto with the boy going pale at the thought of his Father being angry with him for not helping prepare the food for the King and rushed off.
"Did you really have to do that?" asked Arya with Naruto nodding before motioning with his head over to Sansa and Joffrey.
She caught on quickly at the sight of the boy's disappointed and angry emerald eyes of the Prince clearly wanting to do something no one here but him considered fun.
"My Father considers you to be a great Sage. A man of wisdom and a warrior all wrapped up in one," commented Joffrey in a tone that told Naruto the boy neither impressed nor did he think anything highly of masked man.
"Your Father would be correct. He has seen what I can do first hand against his enemies when fighting the Targaryens," replied Naruto in a civil manner despite the small, yet growing desire to punch the boy in the face.
He reminded Naruto so much of Sasuke right now. All the brat really needed now was the Sharingan Eyes, the brooding attitude, and dark duck butted shaped hair to make the illusion complete.
"Really? Yet all you have in your possession is that staff. I bet without it, I could best you easily enough with my own sword," replied Joffrey while taking out his own sword with a confident smile on his face.
"Leave him alone!" exclaimed Arya angrily and nearly snarled like a wolf while her own dire wolf nearby growled too.
"Arya don't aggravate Prince Joffrey," said Sansa in a reprimanding tone.
"What? Why are you defending him? He is acting like a brat right in front of someone who could kill him with a twitch of his finger. You heard the stories our Father told us about the Sage when growing up. I think there is some truth to them," replied Arya while Joffrey sneered at her and Sansa scowled.
'I'll deal with her once I run this so called Sage right through the heart. Prince Joffrey, the Sage Slayer,' thought Joffrey with it being so simple in his twisted mind in just thrusting his sword forward and killing the masked man to finally gain his Father's approval.
"Its all right Arya. Joffrey doesn't take me seriously. I understand. Robert didn't take me very seriously nor did his army when I first met up with them to fight the Targaryens. They laughed on both sides when I marched out alone to face the enemy in battle with my chose weapon of the time. Do you know what I did?" replied Naruto casually, as if he was talking about the weather.
"No. And I don't care since its old news. Now draw a sword or whatever it is you have on hand and face me in combat! If you don't I will call you a coward and openly denounce you in front of everyone!" commanded Joffrey impatiently while getting into a clumsy, if not amateurish sword fighting stance.
'Fool! Even Arya could best him at this point. What have those sword instructors taught this idiot?' thought Naruto before sighing, threw his staff to Arya, who caught it despite her surprise, and picked up the wooden sword the butcher's boy dropped in his haste to head home.
"You are going to defend yourself against me with that?! A wooden sword? Against my real one?" questioned Joffrey in confusion and anger at this slight against his pride.
"You should be honored I even wield a weapon against you. Even a wooden one. What I can do with just my hands alone would be considered cruel and unusual if I used merely a fraction of my power on a child like you," replied Naruto with his tone getting colder and saw Joffrey's anger rising.
"How dare you! I am the Prince of the Seven Kingdoms and its future King! I could have you killed right here on the spot for that insult!" exclaimed Joffrey angrily.
"You could give the command, yes. But who would obey? The Hound? He's not here and he knows better then to pick a fight with me. The King's men? You could command them and a few might obey, but not all. And they would sadly die before getting within striking distance. Your Uncle Jamie? He would certainly try, but you would lose a member of your family the moment the man drew his sword. If such an act is what you wish Prince Joffrey, then come perform the act yourself," said Naruto with Joffrey losing his temper and charged him recklessly.
Sansa and Arya watched in shock and horror (more of the later from Sansa then Arya) at seeing Joffrey being beaten so badly by Naruto. The Sage didn't even have to dodge out of the way of the running thrust Joffrey aimed at his chest. The man smacked the sword away and hit the Prince on the shoulder of his dominant arm with enough force to easily send the boy on the ground in pain knowing the end result would cause a bruise to form where he hit the boy.
Angry over this sudden humiliation, and in front of witnesses no less, Joffrey got up, and tried again to stab Naruto in the chest. But was once again, Joffrey was met with the same results. Naruto smacking the weapon off its intended course and again hitting Joffrey on the shoulder to knock the brat onto the grass covered ground. By the third time, the Prince realized he couldn't just rush up, and stab the man for an instant kill like he first thought.
This lowly peasant wasn't going to lay down and die for him like so many would and could have been ordered to do by him. No. This one had a spine. He had hated people with spines. His Mother always told him those that had spines who refused to bend when commanded were enemies of Lannisters, and the Crown which was rightfully placed on his head. Glancing at Arya, who was now showing how proud she was of Naruto beating him, Joffrey got an idea of ruining the life of the Starks, and the Sage in one shot.
Instead of charging Naruto again, Joffrey charged Arya with the intent to main if not kill the girl, and then run off saying it was an accident. Who would his Father and Mother believe when questioned? Not the Sage. Joffrey knew just enough that the Sage and his Father had a falling out years ago and his Mother the Queen never doubted her son for a second in any story he told her. Lie or otherwise. Sansa always swooned over him and he knew any lie told by him would be backed up by her. Even if it meant siding against her own family!
Joffrey was almost upon Arya, who realized his intentions too little too late at this point to dodge when he found himself being pulled backwards by an unseen power. Both the Stark girls witnessing this were shocked to see Joffrey being pulled back into the outstretched hand of Naruto and his three eyes narrowed dangerously with one being purple and the other an angry blood red.
"Girls! Go back to Inn. Take your dire wolves with you. Joffrey and I need to have a nice long talk about what it means to be a sore loser in a fight," commanded Naruto in a tone neither girl wished to challenge and heard several times by their own Father growing up.
Even Nymeria, as fierce of a dire wolf as her fellow pack members whimpered in fear, and ran off with Arya back to the Inn where it was safe.
"Unhand me! I am the Prince of the Seven Kingdoms. The future King of all Westeros! You have no right to do this to me!" shrieked Joffrey while being held by the back of his neck.
"You are nothing to me Joffrey. Just a spoiled child who thinks he can get his way due to his status as a Prince and can run to daddy or mommy when he stubs his toe. You make the lives of others miserable for your sick amusement and personal gain. I know you had plans to humiliate and hurt the butcher's boy. I saw it in your eyes. Clearly your Father doesn't discipline you enough and your Mother has spoiled you rotten to the point where any punishment you should be given seem wrong in her eyes. Royalty is not an excuse to do what you want in life. Quite the opposite. It means being responsible for the lives you rule over," lectured Naruto in the hopes of reaching Joffrey with his words and hoped he could get that through the brat's thick skull.
Instead, all he got was a wailing brat swinging his sword around wildly in front of him in the offset chance of somehow hitting his target from behind.
"Let go of me you freak of nature! I will have you hanged! I will have your head on a pike! I will order your limbs be torn apart and fed to all sorts of violent animals! I will not be pushed around by a lowly piece of filth like you! I am the Prince and future King of Westeros! I can hurt whoever I want! I can hurt you, the butcher's boy, those Stark girls, their dire wolves, and anyone else I want to hurt for my amusement!" exclaimed Joffrey with Naruto narrowing his eyes.
"I see. If that's how you feel about me and the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, then there is only one thing left to do. Oh and to answer my own question regarding the men laughing at me when I fought during your Father's rebellion...I killed the enemy army and shut your Father's army up when I did it," commented Naruto coldly before hitting Joffrey with the wooden sword over and over again with a great deal of force.
Not enough to break his bones despite the brats skinny form, but it would definitely leave some bruises on the skin, and they wouldn't go away for sometime. Joffrey wailed in pain while he did this, though Naruto didn't care if anyone heard it since he was in the right, and felt it was only fair that Joffrey understood what it meant to feel pain over inflicting it to others.
When it was all over after about 20 minutes of nonstop hitting, Naruto easily dropped the Prince onto the ground, picked up his staff, threw the now broken wooden sword into the lake nearby to let it sink, and walked away to leave the whimpering boy of a Prince to think about his actions. If this didn't wake the whiny brat up, then nothing clearly would, and the Seven Kingdoms was clearly be doomed if Joffrey sat on the Iron Throne.
A phantom of the Mad King if there ever was one.
(Crossroads Inn.-Nighttime)
Naruto was sleeping in his room. Ned, Arya, and Sansa were all sleeping in rooms nearby with their dire wolves in the pens given to them by a nervous owner. Naruto had assured the owner that the dire wolves wouldn't do anything unless it was to harm their human Masters. Given how the Sage had given his word they wouldn't do anything, the man felt his anxiousness leave him and the additional money Naruto had given him to cover the "expenses" for the dire wolves helped ease the man's fears.
Only now, his sleep was being rudely interrupted by several Lannister men, who opened the door to his room, and glaring at him hatefully.
"You are to stand before the King, the Queen, and the Prince immediately!" commanded one of the Lannister men while itching to unsheathe his sword.
"Really? Why?" asked Naruto while knowing the real reason, but felt the need to play along.
"Just get up and follow us before we run you through with our swords!" commanded the second Lannister man with an arrogance about him.
Sighing, Naruto (still masked due to anticipating this) rose from his bed, and followed the men into the room where the royal family was seated waiting for him. Well Robert was seated, but Cersei was standing, glaring hatefully at Naruto, and Joffrey glaring at him with equally as much hate, if not more. Behind Naruto came the Stark family, who were also brought into the room though with more force by the Lannister, as if to say they were weak, and unable to do anything to stop this.
"What is the meaning of this Robert?" asked Ned while Robert moved to speak, but was beaten to it by Cersei.
"What is the meaning of this?! This...This monster attacked my son. This horrid creature of unholy origin you brought with us has beaten my son bloody and bruised earlier today. I demand justice for my son and a punishment be delivered in his name. An assault on the Prince and Heir is as bad as an assault on the King!" exclaimed Cersei while Naruto saw Joffrey smirking at him like he had won this fight using his Mother's way of doing things.
"Shut up woman! We don't know the whole story. Naruto, is it true you beat my son up?" questioned Robert while Naruto glanced at Joffrey and Cersei.
"Yes. Yes its true," replied Naruto with the Starks gasping and even Cersei was surprised the man admitted to it since she fully expected him to deny the charges or spin some tale to discredit the accusations.
"You heard him! He admitted to it. I want him dead! And those dire wolves too. They clearly listen to him over the Starks from what I saw. They could be used by him to have me killed. Eaten like some rabbit!" exclaimed Joffrey with a hint of excitement in his voice missed almost by all.
"That's not true!" exclaimed Arya while Sansa didn't want Lady to be put down since her dire wolf was the tamest of all the pack they had saved.
"Be quiet Arya. Anger will only make things worse," replied Naruto calmly with the girl calming down somewhat, but she still glared at Joffrey.
"Before I even give the order to put you to the sword Naruto, I will give you this one chance to explain yourself," said Robert while Cersei and Joffrey looked livid at the fact he was giving the masked man a chance to defend himself.
"First, your son tried to duel with me in a sword fight. His sword against my wooden one I took from the ground after the butcher's boy ran off from his time playing with Arya. Joffrey was losing after two attempts of rushing forward in an attempt to try and stab me in the chest. Please! As if I would just stand there and take such a hit simply because he is the Crown Prince," replied Naruto while Joffrey quickly seethed with humiliation at the mere memory of it.
"Lies! You cheated and used your magic tricks against me!" protested Joffrey angrily at the Sage's words.
"He did not! I was there. So was Sansa. We saw Joffrey try to best the Sage twice and failed miserably. When it didn't work, the Prince tried to stab me instead," said Arya with Ned now looking at her in shock and then at Sansa.
"Is this true?" asked Ned while looking at Sansa, who looked conflicted on which side to choose, and while she wanted to speak the truth, the glare from Joffrey to say otherwise kept her voice at bay.
Yet at the same time, a part of the girl that was of House Stark was able to take command of the girl's neck, and slowly nod yes that it was in fact true.
"Every word of it. Before Joffrey could get close enough to maim or kill Arya, I stopped the attack, and gave Joffrey the beating he rightfully deserved after ordering the girls to leave with their dire wolves. They had no idea I was going to beat Joffrey up with the wooden sword and even before that, I tried to get it through his thick skull he couldn't just hurt people for fun like it was the best thing in the world. Your son wouldn't listen to reason or any form of advice on the issue. So I decided to make a...lasting impression in regards to my lesson," said Naruto while Ned looked furious at this news being told to him just now.
"Lies! I refuse to believe my sweet innocent boy would commit such a crime. Kill him! Kill him now!" exclaimed Cersei angrily while glaring at Naruto with all the Lannister men now drawing swords, but Robert's hand was raised, and reluctantly they obeyed his command.
"Do you swear this is the truth Naruto?" asked Robert with Naruto nodding.
"Every word Robert. Your boy picked a fight in a duel with me. He was losing badly. In an act of spite, your son tried to kill Arya, or at the very least made the move to do so in the belief I would intervene in a self sacrificing manner. When I decided to reason with Joffrey with words, the brat spoke about how he was the future King of Westeros and could hurt whoever he wanted for his amusement without reprisals. Only after those very words were spoken did I give Joffrey the royal beating he deserved. One we both know was long overdue," replied Naruto with Cersei glaring hatefully at him.
"You had no right to discipline my son in such a harsh manner. You should have brought this before myself and the King," said Cersei with Naruto glancing at her.
"And what would either of you have done? The answer? Nothing. Nothing! I did what neither of you had the courage or desire to do. Robert, you spend all your time drinking wine, and whoring with every wench that catches your fancy. You hate the idea of just about anything ruining your time doing either. Cersei, you spend your days coddling your eldest son, and wouldn't dare think about punishing him even if he was slowly killing an innocent child right in front of you. So do not speak to me about how to discipline your brat when neither of you would have done the deed in my place," countered Naruto with his words being cold, harsh, and unfortunately very much true.
"You dare!" shrieked Cersei with her tone clearly saying she was livid by his words.
"Well? Am I wrong?" asked Naruto with Robert glancing over at his so called son and really looking at him for few long hard seconds.
Joffrey had always been an odd ball in Robert's mind. Looking nothing like him in terms of physical body or anything personally that would make the Baratheon call the boy his son. Oh Cersei said Joffrey was his son, but some part of Robert said it he wasn't, and listened to the voice in his head over the years. Hence why he never spent any time with Joffrey and left him to be, as Naruto so clearly put it, coddled by his Mother. The boy was thin for his age. Nowhere near the bulk Robert himself possessed when growing up. Hell, even his own younger brothers Stannis and Renly both had more muscle on their bodies when they were at Joffrey's age. But Joffrey had be a thin little shit when growing up, never truly working for anything, and demanded everything when capable of forming sentences.
"No. You are not wrong," admitted Robert with a sigh.
"You're siding with him?! After the beating he gave my son?!" demanded Cersei while only Naruto noticing she said "my son" and not "our son" like many would assume a woman would say to their husband.
"Silence woman! I wasn't finished!" Robert shot back angrily.
Cersei looked like she wanted to say something else, but held her tongue at the very last moment before whatever she wanted to say did more harm then good to her cause.
"Look Naruto, I know you mean well in teaching my son a lesson. The Seven knows he should have been disciplined long before today for some of the things he's done. Still, I can have you doing it for me, or his Mother despite it being well deserved. Joffrey may act like a sack of shit, but he's MY sack of shit, and I'll deal with him accordingly from now on. Understand?" replied Robert with Naruto looking from him to an angry Joffrey and then back to the King.
"Fine! He's your mess Robert. I accept that. Perhaps the beating he got while deserved was not mine to give. I apologize to you on that front alone. But make no mistake Robert, if he gets out of line again, and neither parent disciplines him, I will take proper action in the name of those he harms depending on what Joffrey does to warrant it," replied Naruto with Robert sighed and nodded.
"Fair enough. You're all free to go," commanded Robert tiredly.
"Wait! What about the dire wolves?" asked Joffrey with Robert looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"What about them boy? They didn't harm you," questioned Robert while having a look of pure dislike in his eyes for the boy he had the displeasure of calling his son.
"They could have harmed Joffrey. They are more loyal to the Sage then to the Starks. I saw as much when we were at Winterfell. They should be put down as some form of punishment toward the Sage," said Cersei with Arya scowling hatefully at the Queen and Sansa looked terrified over the idea of Lady being put down.
"Robert, the dire wolves have shown they are not a threat to anyone here. They have been around you, my men, your men, and your family without any harm befalling any of us. To punish the dire wolves is unjust and an assault on my House," said Ned with Robert thinking it over in his head.
"So you claim, but they are dire wolves. Not dogs. Not even wolves. Dire wolves!" said Cersei while Robert looking at Ned and then his children.
"You can't take Nymeria from me. I won't let you!" exclaimed Arya angrily, but a glare from her Father silence any further protest.
"My apologies Robert. My daughter is headstrong had grown attached to her dire wolf," said Ned with Robert nodded in understanding.
"Dire wolves are not pets Lord Stark. They will cause problems when we get to King's Landing," said Cersei with Ned frowning at her.
"And you would have them killed instead of making arrangements to send them back to Winterfell?" asked Naruto lazily with Cersei's glare increasing.
"They are wild beasts. Wild beasts are hunted and killed. Not kept as pets," countered Cersei with Naruto shaking his head.
"Robert, if there is nothing else, can we go back to our rooms to sleep? I don't want to be in a grouchy mood tomorrow," said Naruto tiredly since he wanted to sleep and didn't need this crap from the woman.
"You can all go," ordered Robert with the Starks and the Sage nodding before they left the room.
"How can you let that monster abuse Joffrey and do nothing to punish him?! He admitted to practically committing treason against the crown and you let him go like it was nothing of the sort!" exclaimed Cersei with Robert glaring at her while Joffrey stomped off with a limp since one of the strikes Naruto landed earlier was to his right leg.
"And what you have done woman? Just let Joffrey do as he pleases without any form of punishment? He almost killed the daughter of my dear friend and newly appointed Hand of the King," countered Robert with Cersei scoffed.
"Lies. Joffrey did nothing of the sort," said Cersei with Robert's scowl not leaving him.
"That's what you said about the cat he killed. A pregnant cat I might add. Even after it was over you kept saying he was innocent despite the blood on his clothes, cat in hand, and the blood kitchen knife in the other," challenged Robert since he beat the stuffing out of Joffrey for that act since the cat was actually Tommen when the boy was a baby.
Thank the Gods the boy didn't remember much of the animal or know what had befallen it at Joffrey's hands.
Cersei wanted to say something else, but refrained from doing so since it would only be a weak defense against her son's past actions. She could say her son didn't know any better since he was but a child back then and Joffrey merely wanted to impress his "Father" in a way that would get the man to notice his "son". But it was too weak of an excuse to use now. Besides, she used it up already when the event happened, and Robert was beating her son bloody for the act itself.
Instead, she stormed out angrily without so much as looking back at her husband.
(Winterfell-Sometime Later)
Bran stirred awake. His mind had been filled with many strange things as of late while unconscious, following the incident in the tower. First, he saw a three eyed raven flying through the air, followed by a three eyed creature with ten tails pushing back a pack of lions, and krakens all hounding a wolf's den. He saw a coldness sweep through the land of Winterfell and freezing everything it touches to death. Men. Women. Children. From high to low in status, all were consumed in the darkness, and the cold until a great power from the three eyed ten tailed creature banished the evil away.
And just like that, the boy woke up with a gasp.
"Bran! You're finally awake!" exclaimed Luwin with a gentle smile on his face while holding the boy's hand.
"Maester Luwin? How long was a I out?" asked Bran while sitting up.
"A few days. You hit your head on the stones of the tower you climbed and fell from a substantial height. Thankfully, the Sage himself saved you before your body had hit the ground," replied Luwin with Bran thinking over what happened and his eyes widened in shock.
"I remember. I remember what happened when I fell! I was thrown out of the window!" exclaimed Bran with Luwin smiling at seeing the boy awake and could tell them what they needed to know.
The prisoner they had captured trying to kill Bran had ultimately killed himself by biting off his tongue and choking on his own blood. The coward!
"Don't say anymore dear boy. I'll get your brother Robb and you can tell him everything," said Luwin before going to get Robb and Bran's dire wolf now made itself known for its young owner.
"Hey boy. You've been here all this time and yet you don't have a name. I think...I think I'll name you Summer!" declared Bran with the dire wolf loving the name and licked his face.
That was the sight Robb and Maester Luwin saw when he came into the room to see his younger brother and smiled a warm smile that seemed to elude him up until now.
"You're awake. Good! Maester Luwin told me how you remembered what happened," said Robb with Bran nodding.
"I did. But where is our Mother?" asked Bran with Robb frowning.
"Mother went to King's Landing with Ser Rodrik. Or at the very least try to catch up with our Father before he along with the others gets to King's Landing. She suspects a possible Lannister plot aimed against the crown and against our House after an assassin tried to kill you with a very expensive dagger," said Robb with Bran's eyes widening.
"I know who pushed me! It was one of the Lannisters. He was with the Queen and they were uh...they were uh...well...," said Bran before blushing and looking sheepish.
"The Queen? What were they both doing Bran?" asked Robb while seeing Bran's face getting increasingly red.
"They were uh...doing what adults do when they uh...want to make babies," said Bran in a sheepish tone and looked away embarrassed with a red face.
"I see. Well uh...that certainly explains some things...sort of," replied Robb while Maester Luwin also looked a bit sheepish as well at hearing this since it wasn't everyday a 10 year old boy sees two full grown adult engage in such sexual activity.
"You said the Queen herself was with this Lannister when they were uh...together. Can you describe the man in question she was with?" asked Luwin with Bran thinking it over in his head.
"He was tall, blonde hair, green eyes, and wore the golden armor those soldiers the King's escort were wearing," replied Bran with Robb and Luwin frowning.
"One of the Kingsguard. No question about the description. But the only blonde haired man among the Kingsguard with the escort was...Jamie Lannister," said Robb to Luwin and saw the Maester was just as confused.
"Bran, are you absolutely sure the man you saw with the Queen had blonde hair, green eyes, and wore golden armor of the Kingsguard?" asked Maester Luwin to ensure the boy was telling the truth with Bran quickly nodding.
"Yes Maester Luwin. I know what I saw up there. The man even said 'The things I do for love,' before he smashed my head against the stone and threw me right out of the tower window," said Bran in confusion since he wasn't sure what he had seen, only that his eyes had seen it.
"Maester Luwin, a moment of your time," remarked Robb before motioning the Maester to move away from Bran so they could talk privately.
"Do you really think Bran saw such a thing? Cersei and Jamie Lannister together in such a manner? Both committing incest?" asked Robb with Luwin looking back at Bran.
"The boy is many things Robb. But a liar is not one of them. He doesn't have the skill to lie to me and he certainly wouldn't lie to you. Still, a child that young tends to have a bit of an imagination. Perhaps he saw someone with the Queen, but his mind in that state of unconsciousness placed the image of Jamie Lannister there in that moment to replace the actual individual she was with. For what reason, I do not know, but it is clear to me that one thing above all else happened in the tower," replied Luwin with Robb nodding.
"Aye. The Queen committed adultery with a member of the Kingsguard. If the King ever found out, he would put her to the sword along with the man she was with," added Robb with Luwin shaking his head.
"You forget, her children would also face the King's wrath too. Even worse, if this is in fact all true, who is to say the children are even the King's children? What if they aren't his children and he's been raising three bastards with one about to ascend the Iron Throne in the near future?" whispered Luwin with Robb's eyes widening.
"The Queen would kill just about anyone who learned of even one of these scandalous secrets. Especially, if there were any proof showing it so long as the end result ensured one of her children was on the throne to succeed King Robert," whispered Robb back to Luwin, who nodded in full agreement.
"What do we do? We can't send a raven to King's Landing. It would easily be intercepted by one of the many Lannister agents already there and have been for years. And even if it wasn't, the only proof we have is the word of the newly appointed Hand of the King's 10 year old son. One who hit his head on a rock and could easily have what he said he saw be considered nothing more then a dream formed in his head during his time recovering," said Luwin with Robb cursing under his breath.
"Mother has the dagger. She wanted to give it to Father to show it to the King. It is the only solid proof we have that someone wanted Bran dead when everyone left for King's Landing. We don't have any kind of identity of the attacker, except for the fact he could possibly be a Lannister agent. Sadly, such harsh accusations does not strengthen us with what proof we have on hand to back up our claims. I would sooner have better odds in terms of slaying The Mountain in battle or in a tourney," said Robb with Luwin nodding.
"Aye, I agree with you my Lord. Wine in a cracked glass is more solid then the proof we possess at this point. Still, we now know the reason behind the two attempts on Bran's life. All we can to do now is inform your Father in King's Landing and prepare ourselves down here for future attacks by Lannister agents," said Luwin with Robb nodding.
"We'll do that within the week. Give my Father time to settle into his duties as the Hand of the King first. Plus, I feel Jon should be told this when he returns from the Wall. An extra pair of sharp eyes from not only him, but his dire wolf Ghost could be invaluable to us in the future," added Robb with Luwin nodding.
They would need all the help they could get.
(A/N: YAY! Another super long chapter. Again, I hope you enjoy this. I'm really trying here to get things right with the Game of Thrones side of things. Also, I know from what reviews I got in the last chapter (not all pleasant either) that I misspelled bards (five times only) so I made that grammatical change so they were all spelled correctly. So thanks to those of you who reviewed (nicely!) and mentioned that to me so I could easily change it. Until next time...PEACE!)