Of White Trees and Blue Roses

I own nothing. This all belongs to GRRM, and I'm just playing with the story he gave us. Special mention to for the info I've taken from there to create this chapter.

~X~

Chapter Thirty – The Stark in Winterfell

Winterfell

Lord Rickard saw the small figure beneath the heart tree, hunched over with his knees tucked up to his chest, and walked in his direction. His armour weighed heavy as he trudged under the familiar boughs and branches of the godswood, but if he was heading to King's Landing he at least wanted to look the part of strong northern lord, even if he didn't feel it.

Beneath the breast plate and greaves, his ribs seemed to crush his heart and lungs, and his arms felt weak. Maester Walys had told him how he believed the strain of recent events was causing his heart to fail. The maester had also tried to convince him not to heed the king's demand to appear at his son's trial, that it might be the end of him, but what kind of father abandoned a child in their hour of need?

The charge was treason. Lord Stark wasn't so naive that he believed he would only be required to watch a trial—treason tainted an entire family. If he could secure Brandon's freedom by offering up himself then so be it. If Maester Walys was right then Rickard's days were already numbered, and the idea of surviving even for a short while when his oldest son languished in the dungeons of the Red Keep or his head decorated a spike sickened him.

With a clank, he lowered himself down onto the earth beside a red-eyed and sniffing Benjen. His youngest boy looked up, and Lord Rickard knew what he would say before he even opened his mouth.

"I want to come with you."

Rickard shook his head. "You need to stay here in Winterfell."

"At least let me go looking for Lyanna. I can find her—I know I can." Benjen tried to raise his voice but his throat was still thick with sobs.

"She could be anywhere in Westeros or beyond by now. If by some miracle you found her trail, what would you do when you found her? Can one half of the Knight of the Laughing Tree really defeat Prince Rhaegar and whichever knights of the kingsguard hold her? No, you will stay here. There must—"

"—Always be a Stark in Winterfell. I know." Benjen's face crumbled. "But I want to help. Brandon...Lyanna...it's all my fault. If I hadn't jousted at Harrenhal..."

Unexpectedly, Lord Stark pulled his son into a hug, squashing his wet cheeks against his breastplate.

"It's not your fault, Benjen. If anyone is to blame then it's me. I shouldn't have allowed Lyanna to ride off on the way to Riverrun. If I hadn't then maybe Brandon would be a husband instead of a captive, and rather than a missing daughter I'd have gained a daughter-in-law."

Benjen said nothing so Rickard continued.

"It's not just that there must always be a Stark in Winterfell. If you're here then I know you're safe. I'm going to a dangerous place and who knows what might happen to Brandon and myself. Should Lyanna never return home then there'll be just you and Ned to carry on the family name."

Benjen wiped his eyes. "You think something might happen to you? Then don't go. Don't leave me here on my own!"

"I don't know," Lord Stark said as convincingly as possible. "But if something does happen to me, Brandon...maybe Ned...will need you. Besides, there is a lot to do here. You want to be a knight someday? Then you must learn that there's as much honour in doing your duty as there is in fighting great battles and seeking glory."

For a moment they sat in silence.

"Do you think she'll come home soon?"

Lord Stark sighed. "There is much about what happened that I don't know. The prince has taken her—for what ends? Maybe he'll tire of her? Maybe she'll tire of him? Or perhaps not."

"You think she wanted to go with Rhaegar?"

Rickard gave a wry smile. "Lyanna has always been a law unto herself. You said yourself that she spoke highly of him after Harrenhal."

For a moment they sat in silence, until the weary father reluctantly got to his feet. Without words, Ben followed him to where many men had gathered in the courtyard, and stood by Maester Walys' side amongst the throng of horses, squires, and banners of many colours. His father's stern mask was firmly back in place, and he gave a final farewell nod.

Howland Reed joined him, and the three watched the preparations until the procession left Winterfell and disappeared into the distance. It wasn't until later that Benjen returned to his room to find his father's great sword, Ice, on his bed.

Picking up the piece of parchment that was pinned underneath it, Benjen read it.

Keep me safe until Lord Stark returns.

In his heart Ben knew that his father was not expecting that Lord Stark to be himself.

~X~

The Eeyrie

Jon Arryn looked out into the godswood and saw Ned exactly where he expected him to be. Even as a child this spot had always been where he'd run to whenever he was hurt and upset.

When Jon had passed on the declaration from King's Landing, Ned had visibly reeled. Robert had put a hand on his shoulder, but it had been shrugged off, and his Stark ward had stumbled out of the room. Lord Arryn had let him go—not least because he needed time himself to come to terms with the news.

His own nephew, Elbert, was amongst those held captive by King's Landing, and as his father hadn't lived to see his only child born, the demand to witness his trial was sent to Jon himself.

Whatever questions there might be about the king's behaviour in recent years, it was obvious that he had not lost any of his guile. The request was guaranteed to bring every lord to the Red Keep. Besides, to decline was to openly defy their monarch—an act of treason.

Or was that the only option? Was there another way? What awaited them when they arrived? Jon did not think that this would end well, and was half tempted not to go, but then they had Elbert...

And what of his promise to Lord Stark to keep Ned safe? No doubt Rickard understood the situation as much as he did. If Jon went to King's Landing to answer the demand and something happened to him, was Robert's reaction likely to bring disaster to the Baratheon family, too? Having no children of his own, his wards were as close to him as sons.

Jon's head had begun to hurt, and as such he'd decided to find Ned—to find how he was bearing the news.

Ned looked up as Jon approached and took a seat on a low wall nearby.

"Father will do his duty and go to King's Landing...and what then?" Ned asked.

"Time will tell."

The two shared a pointed look that said that their minds were on the same line of thought.

"The king asked for you, too."

Jon nodded. The questions were in Ned's eyes but he didn't ask them—which was a good thing, as Lord Arryn didn't know what the answers were as yet.