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A/N There is a little bit of a time jump this chapter! Just a small warning!

Chapter 13

"Lady Everra Legrath, do you swear by all the seven gods that you will serve the true king?Will you come to his aid when called on? Do you accept him as the rightful heir of the Iron Throne?" Cersei asked, her voice filled with contempt and her eyes twisted into a glare.

Everra was aware of all the eyes staring at her as she knelt in front of Cersei and Joffrey and could feel his arrogant stare from all the up the iron throne.

"I vow to serve the true and rightful King of the realm until death releases me from my vow," she said, her voice obedient.

The room erupted into applause as she stood from the ground and met Cersei's eye. Cersei smiled venomously and said, "Everra Legrath is herby an ally of the Lannister's and the iron throne. Let this alliance help bring peace to the realm and vanish those traitors whom would defy it."

Everra forced a cold smile on her face and curtsied once more before moving to the side, allowing a man behind her to step forth. There were a few hundred more people behind her, of various forms of status. Noble families, knights anyone and everyone whom was eager to be on the right side of the Lannister's. Everra could have laughed at the irony.

Everra watched from a distance as Jon skilfully threw knife towards the wooden board and watched as he smiled when the knife hit near the centre of the board. It had been a few weeks since his arrival and Everra made sure to keep up with his progress at least once a week. It was a pleasant distraction from the problems ahead. Jon's mood had improved drastically since Everra had revealed to him a few weeks ago that Bran had woken from his sleep.

Everra had been kept up to date on the events that were taking place in Kings Landing, she knew that

Lady Catelyn had just arrived in Kings Landing a few days back and Everra was making sure to keep an eye on her movements for the foreseeable future.

She watched as YoungBird advised Jon on how to improve his throwing and felt a strange tug in her stomach as she looked at Jon, he admittedly looked a lot like his father but there was undeniable familiarity in his looks, especially in his eyes. She suspected his eyes were the one reason why Lord Edwin had left him be and possibly for her sake as well, he knew she was up to something.

Andromache lay nearby in the sun, stretching in pleasure as she relaxed. Everra felt very tempted to go to sleep but she had things to take care of. After all, she was the head of a great house, she did have her responsibilities. There was something nagging in her in the back of her mind, she knew what it was, she simply did not wish to face it yet. Marriage.

Everra scowled at the thought and simply wished it out of her mind. She need not think of it for another few months. She felt something very akin to amusement as she remembered whom she was planning on marrying. For some unfathomable reason, when she had first told Daavos, she had done so in between hysterics.

"My lady," a voice called from behind her.

Everra turned to face them and was greeted at the sight of Daavos, his face tight with worry.

"A raven from Kings Landing," he said, his arm extending out to give her the sealed piece of paper which she snatched from his hands, furiously tugging it open. Its contents gave her a slight pause as she reapplied what it meant.

She looked at Daavos and said, "Tyrion Lannister has just been arrested by Catelyn Stark. Lord Eddard has just suffered his injuries by Jaime Lannister."

Daavos's eyes widened at the realisation and Everra looked at him, her eye's filled with acceptance,

"You know what I must do next."

"My lady?" A voice called.

Everra snapped out of her thoughts and was careful to hide her slight surprise at the sight of Lord Varys standing beside her.

"Lord Varys," she acknowledged.

"Pleasure to finally meet you my lady, I have heard so much about you," he said, bending down to kiss her hands briefly. His lips were dry against her smooth skin and Everra was more than tempted to yank her hand away.

They were to the far side of the proceedings which was now filled with whispers and half hearted laughs. Everyone had begun to get bored.

"Likewise, Lord Varys."

Everra had only been in Kings Landing for a few short days, she had arrived only a day after Lord Eddard had been arrested.

They stood there in silence for a few moments, both of their eyes drifting godwards the youthful King, whose face was twisted into an arrogant and disdainful smirk.

"A wonderful King he shall be," Lord Varys said.

"The most deserving King Westeros shall ever see," she replied in turn.

"You will be going to Rivverun tomorrow if I remember correctly?" Lord Varys questioned.

"That is correct," she said stiffly.

"You must be very brave," he said, "to voluntarily go off to battle. Many men would rather stay in the comforts of their homes."

"But I am not a man Lord Varys," she said.

"No, no you're not," he agreed.

They stood in silence once more, their shoulders brushing against each other.

"I wonder when you arrive if Lord Tyrion shall be there, he seems to have disappeared into thin air."

Everra glanced at the man from the corner of her eye and replied, "Let us hope so."

They did not speak to the other until the line had finally finished and they were finally dismissed and Everra had hurried out as quickly as possible after she had muttered her goodbyes.

She walked briskly past the pool of people exiting the hall and continued to walk until she reached the gardens. She did not like Kings Landing at all, mainly due to its inhabitants but she did appreciate the little beauty it beheld.

She started to walk slower as she distanced herself from the numerous people behind her and finally felt herself slightly relax but you could never be fully relaxed when in Kings Landing, you would die before sundown.

"My lady!" A voice called out and Everra curled her fists in frustration. She was more affected by everything in Kings Landing, strangely more vulnerable than she was anywhere else. One false movement and she would be dead on the spot.

She turned around and saw Daavos walking quickly towards her, panting slightly. She quickly peered around to see whether or not they were being watched and when she saw that they weren't she grabbed a hold of his hand and pulled them behind a tree, their voices in low whispers.

"Did you find her?" she whispered, letting go of his hand.

"No-my lady I did not," he admitted reluctantly.

"Then what are you doing here? We have one day left to find her Daavos! We need not waste any time," she snapped.

Daavos nodded and slipped away from her, disappearing from sight in a matter of moments. They had been searching for the Stark girl for dies to no avail, Everra would have been impressed if not for the undeniable stress it gave her.

One more day, she thought to herself, one more day and then the next time I see any of these people it is when I see their lifeless corpses.

It was a strange kind of comfort.

Everra sat down in front of the table, sighing at the thought of all the plans she still had to make for tomorrow. War was a stressful process, one of which she could not have known the extent of beforehand. Daavos was still searching for Arya in the streets of Kings Landing. She propped her elbows onto the table, burying her head in her hands. Everra could feel her exhaustion spreading throughout her body, her eyes dragging shut.

She had not slept at all since her arrival in Kings Landing a few days before, or perhaps it merely felt that way. She knew that it was essential for her to be here however, she knew that. She lifted her head from her hands and grabbed the quill placed on her desk, writing on the paper laid out in front of her.

A short time later there was a hesitant knock on her door and Everra snapped her head up from her writing, her hand coming to a pause.

"Come in," she called out, dabbing her quill in the ink. The door opened slowly to reveal a sheepish Lord Varys standing behind the door, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Lord Varys," She said, "What a pleasant surprise do come in."

He moved into the room, softly shutting the door.

"Thank you my lady, I planned on speaking to you earlier, but I had to find something for you first."

Everra raised her eyebrows questioningly, her green eyes staring at the man coldly. Lord Varys stepped in front of the desk and revealed from behind him in his hands a folded piece of paper.

"Lord Varys while I am flattered that you wish to bring me something, I have no use for a folded piece of paper."

Varys smiled slyly, and unfolded the paper, laying it in front of Everra.

"Oh but I think you do, my lady. That is a map that details all the escape routes of the Red Keep. I thought it may have been of use to you."

Everra paused slightly and placed her quill down and stared up at the man in front of her. She tilted her head to the side slightly and feigned ignorance, "Why not give it to the King?"

Varys chuckled at her slghtly and said, "I suspect you will give to a King but not the one on the Iron Throne."

Everra remained outwardly calm at the accusation and continued to stare at him coldly, "Are you implying something Lord Varys?"

Varys sat down in the empty chair in front of her and smiled, "You are a smart girl, my lady, quite smart. You almost fooled me as well, pretending to swear loyalty to the Lannisters, pretending to take Ned Starks bastard hostage, smuggling your near sixteen thousand soldiers into Westeros months before your own arrival, it was all very very good. Truly, I am astounded at your accomplishments."

"What do you want?"

Varys's chuckled loudly and said, "Believe it or not my lady we both have common goals-"

"And what would those be?"

"Doing the best for the realm, my lady is the most prominent one. I think we can both agree that our dearly beloved King is clearly not what is best for the realm. I simply thought I may aide you in your journey."

Their eyes met for a few moments, both of the stares threatening until Everra sighed softly and said, "What gave me away?"

Varys's lips tugged upwards at her question but he did not answer her, instead starting to hum a familiar tune.

Everra stiffened slightly as the familiar tune reached her ears, it was the song her mother used to sing to her.

"You didn't know my mother," she said coldly.

"No," he agreed, "but someone else in the castle knew her very well."

Everra's jaw tightened at the reminder and one of her hands curled into a fist.

She leaned forward slightly and examined the paper placed in front of her, her eyes latching on to every detail.

"Why not reveal me to the Lannister's Lord Varys? Why help me?" She questioned softly, her voice still cold.

Varys paused for a few moments, seemingly searching for a response.

"I think the better question would be why you are siding against the Lannister's my lady," he replied.

"That does not answer my question."

He sighed contemplatively and said, "You surprised me. Not many people have managed to do so over the years but you have managed to do so, on more than one occasion."

They sat in silence for a few moments until Varys stood up from his chair and said, "My lady I best be off, it is getting rather late."

Everra watch him go quietly, her eyes focused on his retreating form until he reached the door and paused saying, "You may want to speak to him you know, it may help."

Then he left, leaving his words echoing in her head.

Ned's eyes flickered open from sleep and he slowly brought himself upright, unable to see anything in the cool dark dungeon. He could hear the echoes of rats nearby but was unable to see them, his only escape from this hell was sleep, and even then he was never truly free. He never would be free again, he would never see his family again. Never see his home again.

He shut his eyes and was about to drift back into darkness when he felt a figure approaching, the light of the torch making his eyes burn. He sat stiffened slightly and braced himself, was he about to did not even know whether it was day or night or how long he had been here for, though it felt as though it were eternity.

His eyes squinted as he tried to make out the cloaked figure, trying to place the in his memory.

"Who are you?" He croaked out, his voice weak and fragile.

"I'm rather insulted Lord Stark, it was not so long ago when I first met you, I hoped to make a lasting impression," Everra said, tugging back the hood covering her face.

Ned stared at her, his eyes widened with surprise.

"Lady Everra?" he whispered.

"Yes," she replied.

They were both silent for a while, each of them struggling to say something.

"What are you doing here?" Ned said finally, curiosity getting the best of him.

When she didn't answer him Ned turned to look up at her staring down at him, her head tilted to the side.

"You know I have loathed you since I was a child. I hated the very thought of you. I used to imagine you dying, sometimes I was the one who killed you, sometimes it was my father, even my mother. I used to yearn for it, the day the almighty honourable Ned Stark would die. But know that you are going to die, I feel rather disappointed."

Ned chuckled bitterly and said,"If you are here to gloat-"

"You are in no position to patronise me Lord Stark, I am not done yet. You're going to die soon, Joffrey is far to paranoid and idiotic to keep you alive, he will chop your head off sooner or later. Then your daughters will follow, then inevitably your sons and your wife until there are no Starks left on this earth. You see I could let this happen, a few years ago I would have. For my mother."

Ned swallowed loudly and said softly, "I loved your mother very much, I tried to protect her as best I could-"

"Well your best was not good enough, she was still raped and beaten on a daily basis while you returned home with her son to your wife and your other son, to live a long and happy life, filled with love and happiness while she was throwing herself off the top of a castle. Forgive me if I think you are full of shit!" She snapped, her voice rising dangerously.

Ned Stark opened his mouth to protest but closed it helplessly and bowed his head in shame.

"She loved you all her life and never spoke one bad word of you. It frustrated my father to no end. Later on it frustrated me too, you ruined her and she never hated you. Not once. My mother was the kindest, most beautiful woman I knew and let it be known that she is the only person in this world I will ever love. She had a miserable life, one filled with grief and sorrow and rage and I was frequently told that I was the only happy thing she had in her life. It was a few years ago when I realised that was not true, you did make her happy. You gave my mother her first experience of happiness in her life, you gave her the will to live. It was then I realised that what you did do for her was for more valuable than what you didn't. You made sure that her son, your son, my brother, had a home with people who loved him. You gave something to him that my mother would never be able to give to me. So that it was why I must say I am sorry you will die, for my brothers sake, but you have to sacrifice the few -innocent or not- too save the many."

Ned sat there in silence, and looked up at her, his grey eyes meeting her green ones. Neither of them liked the other, they despised each other but they were bonded together by something more powerful than hatred.

Family.

HELLOOOOOOO! It feels like I have not updated in forever! Sorry bout that, I have been so busy with schoolwork it is not even funny. So I hope you all like the developments in this chapter, if you have any complaints just let me know. Thank you to all those who favourited and followed this story, it means so much. I am a little bit disappointed with the lack of reviews for last chapter so can we try to get at least 3 for this one? Thanks so much! Until next time! :)