Tears run down his face as the knife sinks into the cold flesh of his sweet sister. But Lyanna is unfeeling. And he has made his promises to her. The eyes forever closed, her minutely upturned lips, she looks at peace. It is not right that it should be so. But the Stranger's hand has touched her loving heart the moment she heard that song.
Promise me, Ned…and so he does. He wishes he could ignore her words. He does. From a dark corner the babe cries as the blade parts skin and muscle. His wails grow shrill as the heart leaves its ephemeral cage. Never reveal to anyone this last wish of mine. Having liberated the tender thing, Ned wraps it in white cloth, the remnants of a white cloak.
Reed had taken the babe, rocking the child gently. But the crying won't stop. It grows louder and louder still as the burns in the small fire. When the last of it is gone, Ned gathers the dust in a pouch and hides it close to his own heart. The child no longer weeps.
Take me home, brother mine. All of me, but my heart. It has found a new home. Please. Promise me, Ned.
And when he passes through King's Landing he will visit the grave of the fallen prince.
Rhaegar Targaryen has lost the war. Rhaegar Targaryen has lost his life. But Rhaegar Targaryen will forever have Lyanna Stark's heart.