Derreck's pov
During the feast I got so bored that I went to take a walk outside. While returning inside I saw Benjen, the younger brother of Ned Stark, riding in on a horse.
"Hello Benjen, how's the Night's Watch going?" I asked, trying to spark a conversation.
"It's seen better days, but atleast it's still there." He replied. "So you're like the first ranger huh?"
He nodded. "It's a hard task sometimes. But the boys try their hardest, or atleast that's what I like to think." He chuckled.
We walked about a bit, talking about some ranger related stuff, when we saw Jon hitting a dummy.
"Is he dead yet?" Benjen joked. Jon turned around, "Uncle Benjen!" He shouted out and went to hug Benjen. "Why aren't you at the feast?" Benjen asked.
"Lady Catelyn thinks it might be an insult to the royal family to seat a bastard in their midst" Jon admitted sadly. "You're always welcome on the wall, no bastard ever gets refused here." Benjen admitted.
"Then take me with you?" Jon asked. "Father will let me come with you if you ask him." He pleaded. "The wall isn't going anywhere Jon. You don't know what you'll be missing."
Benjen countered. "It's a noble cause." I added, "Joining the wall on such young age." Benjen shot me a glare of disappointment. "Well, I better get inside, rescue your father from his guests." Benjen said while leaving for the great hall. I went to take a piss while Tyrion spoke with Jon.
Lyonel's pov
Meanwhile in the great hall, I was seated on the same table as all of the stark children together with my own brothers and sister. While Joffrey was mostly talking to Sansa, since they should be getting married once they're of age. Alysanne sat next to Arya who was chatting excitedly with Myrcella. Tommen, Robb and Brann seemed to enjoy the talks they were having. I was mostly just observing the feast, seeing how everybody acted. Until I felt someone kick my shins, it was Joffrey.
"Sansa has to tell you something, brother." The last word laced with venom.
"I really hate you for what you did to Joffrey, he did nothing to deserve it. It probably was Arya telling you to do it, she will do anything to ruin my happiness."
Arya seemed to pick up on the conversation since in less than 5 seconds Sansa had food all over her face. Everybody started laughing at the display of Sansa getting mad while I just stayed indifferent. Catelyn signaled Robb to take Arya way so he did. I sat closer to Myrcella and Alysanne and mixed myself into their conversation whenever it was a topic I knew something about. The rest of the feast was uneventful, it mostly was after the incident with Arya and Sansa.
"Is something bothering you Lyonel?" Myrcella asked noticing that I was drifting off. "No, thank you for asking. I'm just thinking about some things." I replied. She nodded and turned her attention back to Alysanne.
The next morning
As I woke up I put on clothes and went to train, like I usually do in the morning when I would be in Starfall. Running into Jon and Arya on the way.
"Hello , your grace." Jon said the moment I got in view.
"I told you Jon, call me Lyonel, no need for formalities." I replied.
Arya smiled, even though she looked sad. "What's wrong Arya?" I asked her. She didn't reply but Jon did. "I told her I'm joining the Night's Watch." Arya flinched again.
"Well Arya, instead of staying here, why don't you ask your father if you can come to the capital with him?" She seemed to cheer up a bit. "Since Sansa is going, maybe you could too?" Jon added in. "I'll go ask right now!" Arya cheered.
Jon patted her on the back and she left. "So the Night's Watch eh?" I asked him. "Aye, I don't want to keep being 'Ned Stark's' bastard. All my life I've wanted to be Jon Stark, but I don't seem to fit in around here. Lady Stark hates me." Jon admitted.
"It's a noble cause. Protecting us from the wildlings. I'm sure you'd fit in there Jon, I wish you'd come with me to the capital. But I support you at what you want to do." I replied.
He smiled and said. "Thanks for the offer, your grace. But going to the Night's Watch is the thing I want." He bowed down. I was going to tell him again he doesn't need to be formal in private. But before I could do that I heard some commotion in the training yard. Tommen lost to Bran in a spar. And Tommen fell on his butt. I could hear some people laugh and congratulate Bran before one of the Lannister servants got Tommen of his ass.
"Good job Bran." Robb cheered. "Think you're though beating my little brother?" Joffrey yelled. "It was just a friendly fight." Tommen replied but, it seemed like Joffrey made up his mind. He grabbed a sword and charged for Robb. Robb swiftly dodged it and grabbed Bran's sword. "Joffrey stop it!" Tommen yelled. Joffrey swung his sword at Robb but he countered it. Robb went for a counter attack and hit Joffrey on his arm. Joffrey whimpered and went to our mother.
I ran downstairs towards Robb and Bran and so did Tommen. "Robb, are you okay?" Tommen asked. "I hate that kid." Robb added. "Yeah so do we." I replied, Robb didn't notice I had arrived yet. "For a prince, he has no idea how to fight." Robb laughed. "Neither do I, but I don't like fighting." Tommen added.
"Our mother will come to you for a answer Robb, for attacking Joffrey." Tommen said. Obviously scared in Robb's place. "I will answer to her then. He attacked me. I'll tell her the truth, even if she won't believe me." Robb replied.
All Stark's must be honorable people.
"Well, it was fun fighting you Bran, you're a better fighter than me, but I'm going to find Myrcella now. I'll see you guys soon!" And with that Tommen ran off.
"I'll go see where Joffrey is. Good luck with my mother. You're gonna need it." I left to go inside the castle and when I went past the maesters quarters I heard Joffrey whine about his arm. I decided to go to my quarters and relax a bit, but on my way there I saw Alysanne, gesturing me to follow her. "I was wondering where you were." I told her while walking down the stairs, still following her. "Look what I found, but be quiet. I'm not sure if we're allowed to be here." She replied. I wanted to ask her where we were going, but I decided against it. She opened a door, leading me inside. It was dimly lit, but it was still very hard to see. "Where are we?" I whispered. "In the Crypt." She replied. Her tone low. "Why are we here?" Was my next question, but I didn't get a reply. "Look, this is who your father was supposed to marry, Lyanna Stark, and his brother, Brandon Stark." I was in awe, I heard of Lyanna Stark, but I've never been told about it. "Is it really safe to be here?" I asked cautiously. "I don't know, but I know this is really cool. Normally there are only statue's of lord's and king's of winterfell." Alysanne was entirely captured in awe. "We should leave Alysanne, it could be dangerous here." I told her. "Don't be scared Lyonel, it's just a crypt." Alysanne replied, taking my hand leading me back up the stairs we came down from. "Happy now?" She asked once we left. "You should stop being so cocky, you're going to get yourself hurt." I told her, while she seemed to just shrug it off. "I know I'm not really in a place to tell you this Alysanne, but plenty of people care about you." She looked at me, looking like she was about to break down, but instead of crying she just ran off. I didn't follow her, instead I went back to my own room. And slept for a bit.
I was woken up by somebody knocking on my door. I went and opened the door, since I locked it last night. "Hello father, what brings you here?" I asked out of surprise.
"Didn't you hear. Bran fell out of a tower." He said. "Ned and me are going to ride, but you should go and have breakfast with your family."
I nodded once and we said our goodbyes. I got dressed and went into the great hall, where I saw mother, Jaime, Tommen and Myrcella. "Where's uncle Tyrion?" I heard Tommen ask while I walked in. I sat down and got an angry glare by mother.
"Hello Lyonel, did you sleep well?" Myrcella asked.
"Yes I did Myrcella, did you?" I replied with a smile.
She nodded and wanted to say something before uncle Tyrion walked in. "Bread and 2 of those little fish, and a mug of dark beer to wash it down and bacon. Burnt black." He told one of the waiters. "Is Bran going to die?" Myrcella asked. "Apparently not." He replied. Myrcella looked relieved while mother looked pissed. "What do you mean?" she asked. "The master says he might live." Tyrion looked up. "It's no mercy letting a child linger in such pain." She said, venom in her tone. "Only the gods know for certain, all the rest of us can do is pray. The charms of the north look entirely lost on you." He joked. "I can't believe you're going. It's ridiculous even for you." Cersei said. Her words still laced with venom. "Where's your sense of wonders?" Tyrion asked.
I excused myself before he finished his story, leaving to go see Bran. "How is he?" I asked lady Catelyn, who sat with him. "He's a fighter, your grace." She replied. We talked a bit, I tried to tell her he'll be fine, but she didn't believe me. "I got to get going, I'm going to spar a bit with Robb and Jon. She flinched at hearing Jon's name. "Thanks for visiting, your grace." I smiled and left. Running into mother on her way to Bran too. "If you ever hurt Joffrey again I will have you thrown into the dungeon's." She told me, walking past me. I ignored her and continued outside, training some more before going back to bed.
I woke up. One hour before leaving for King's Landing. I managed to say goodbye to Jon and Robb, little Bran, and little Rickon. I asked if Robb got any trouble from mother, but she didn't even look at him during the time we were preparing for leaving. As we left on the King's road. Mother, Joffrey and Sansa sat in one carriage while I sat in 1 carriage with Tommen, Myrcella, Arya, and Alysanne. We enjoyed ourselves with some chatting about how King's Landing was. But confirmed that except how hot it is, Winterfell is a lot better. It doesn't smell as bad. It doesn't even smell except for some nature. We stopped in a castle on the way back to King's Landing. Derreck and Me decided to go and spar a bit, but we were interrupted by Arya running over to us. She showed us the sword Jon gave her. She named it 'Needle'. Derreck and her sparred a bit aswell before Joffrey ran out.
"I'm going to tell my father about Arya, girls aren't supposed to swordfight, your father won't like it." He yelled.
"Joffrey, you come back here this instant and fight me. If you win, you can tell father, if you lose, you won't. If you tell them anyways. I'll beat your ass even harder." I yelled at him. He turned to me. And got his sword out of his sheath. "You think you're though Lyonel. I will beat you." He replied.
After saying that the hound came from the woods. "Stop this right now. Or I will tell on both of you." He announced. "I threw my practice sword on the ground. And so did Joffrey. "Now go back inside Joffrey. You don't want to get hurt." When both of them left, we all started laughing.
"So Joffrey thinks he can take you on, Lyonel." Arya laughed. "You're way stronger than him." Derreck laughed. We were moving into the woods to go get food. But while going in there we heard Nymeria, Arya's direwolf. So we followed the sounds and found her, on the ground with an antler in her side. Arya started panicking, while Derreck and me grabbed it and took her to somebody with medical knowledge. "Arya come, quickly, we have to get Nymeria to a maester." While running we yelled for medical help. One in of the field was a trainee medic used in wars. "I can stitch him up. I just need help with getting this antler out." Arya fainted, so I brought her out of the room, to her father. "Lord Stark, Nymeria got hurt in a fight with a stag!" Ned scrambled to his feet.
"Put her down there. Is Arya okay?" He asked, the worry about Arya obvious on his face. "She should be lord." He looked at Arya and made sure she was fine. "Thank you for bringing her to me. I appreciate it." Ned said. I nodded and headed back to Nymeria. When I walked in the antlers were already removed for her and she was getting stitched up. I made sure I wasn't needed anymore and left again. Heading outside this time, back to the riverside. Once at the riverside all I really did was think. About how it will be to be back home. Being able to relax again. And not having to worry.
3 days later.
Back in King's Landing, It was not for another week that I would be returning to Starfall.
Father decided to hold a tournament in the honor of the new King's Hand, Lord Ned Stark, while his eldest son, Robb Stark, was the lord of Winterfell in his absence. I wanted to participate in the tournament but since there was no melee, I didn't enter. Father however wanted to participate really badly, but Lord Ned ended up talking him out of it, but in return he went on a hunt. Which ended up being fatal to him. As he died about 5 minutes ago.
Lord Stak tried to take my brother into custody but was captured and now his retinue was being slaughtered I the news by Meryn Trant, who was tasked to kill Arya during her sword fighting lessons. I quickly grabbed my warhammer and attacked Ser Meryn, but was soon stopped by Syrio Forell, who told me to run, as I was the heir to the Iron Throne. When we ran, I was still accompanied by Arthur and Alysanne. We could have fought them off, but Syrio didn't want us to.
Arya, Alysanne, Arthur and myself went to the enclosed armory outside, which we soon reached. Upon entering I found about 200 men, all kneeling the moment I walked in. Some were wearing Golden Cloaks, and some other were just in normal mail armor, I could see some men from the North, relieved to see Arya with me. "What's going on here?" I asked. One guy stood up. "Were here, as your loyal army, your grace." He replied. "You're the only trueborn Baratheon. Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella are all bastards lord Stark told us. Made by Ser Jaime and Cersei." Was the final answer.
"What's your name, Ser?" I asked him. "I'm no Ser. It's just Rodrick, I got this band of men together on the orders of lord Stark to fight for you." The men all stood up.
"We need to get out of the city. To Dragonstone, uncle Stannis will know what to do." Rodrick nodded. "Well you heard our king men. TO ARMS. WE GO TO DRAGONSTONE." With that all the men cheered and went towards the door, outside was waiting a small force of gold cloaks. "What's the meaning of this?" One of them asked. "You're only 10 men, we're with 200. Surrender now and we'll spare you." Rodrick told them.
"We fight underneath the banner of the one true king of Westeros, king Lyonel Baratheon." The men announced. "Then kneel." Rodrick said, all of them kneeled, and under 5 minutes we arrived in our first fight. "To arms men! LEAVE NO ONE ALIVE!" Rodrick yelled before charging into battle. The men soon followed, while Arthur and I stayed mostly performing a rear guard action, protecting Arya and Alysanne. Since we only outnumbered them by 20 men, the battle was hard, but we had more skilled swordsmen. Near the half of the fight I noticed the Kingslayer being present in the fight.
"Uncle Jaime, surrender now and we'll let you live!" I yelled, running over to him killing two men with swings from my warhammer. He sat on his horse, riding at me while yelling "Never, in the name of King Joffrey, I order you to surrender immediately!" he grabbed the reigns of his horse and charged towards me. I jumped to the side and swung my warhammer into the horse, knocking it to this side, Jaime jumped off of it quickly and took his sword from the ground, walking towards me while my men quickly got the upper hand in the battle. I swung my warhammer to the right, trying to hit him in his side, but he dodged it and slashed downwards where he swung for my legs. I jumped up and dodged it, nearly losing balance and falling over. I think Jaime noticed this as he soon tried doing the same thing when I swung my warhammer again and he tried the same. I managed to hit his side with the hilt of my warhammer, knocking him on the ground. I wasn't going to kill him since I knew he was acting out of royal order, but soon he knocked me on the ground while one of his men pushed me out off balance. Rodrick noticed this so as soon as Jaime swung down, he tackled him to the ground. Receiving a sword to his stomach not 10 seconds afterwards. I got to my feet while all of the Lannister men and Jaime retreated, and with that I was leaving King's Landing and headed to Dragonstone, where Stannis resided.
A/N: sorry for the long wait guys this chapter was finished last week but my pc crashed and I lost all my files but here you go. I'll try and upload the next one as soon as possible. Thank you for the reviews and favourites it means a lot. If you've got anything to say please do so.
This is dawnofdorne signing off