I own nothing but Raenera… I'm still looking for a beta for this story if you and interested please message me.
Ned Stark sat in the Gods wood cleaning his sword ice when Catelyn came into the woods a letter in her hands. He turned slightly to look at her.
"All these years, and I still feel like an outsider when I come here." Catelyn stated.
"You have five northern children you're not an outsider" Ned laughed.
"I wonder if the old Gods agree" Catelyn asked looking to around
"It's your gods with all the rules." Ned joked
Ned looked at her as she fiddled with the paper in her hands. He could tell something was wrong.
"I'm so sorry my love" Catelyn stated
"Tell me."
"There was a raven form King's Landing. Jon Arryn is dead. A fever took him. I know he was like a father to you"
"Your sister, the boy, his ward"
"They both have their health, gods be good. There is no word on his bastard daughter." Catelyn said before sitting next to Ned. She paused for a few moments letting Ned take in the news. "The raven brought more news. The King rides for Winterfell with the queen and all the rest of them."
"If he's coming this far north... there only one thing he's after"
"You can always say no Ned"
Weeks passed in peace at King's Landing with the king and the royal family gone; leaving only a few staff members and few member of council there. The game was still a foot but not nearly as dangerous as before for Raenera. Baelish spent most of his time in his whore houses and very little in the red keep. Raenera came in the throne room on her way to Flea Bottom. Her dress was much more demure than what she would normally wear when royal family was here; it was a very dark blue partially black. Her eyes locked on the empty Iron throne. The seat her family once held. Starlight trotted up to her rubbing against her side. She looked down to her only true friend patting her on her now large head. It was only a matter of months before Starlight was found out to be direwolf the more she grew. Raenera moved closer to the Iron Throne as if in trace with it. Light shined through the window behind the throne illuminating her face. She was lost in trace like state; like she was seeing herself or her siblings on the throne the way it should have been.
"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if Rhaegar had won?"
"Of course I do. I would be married off by now and away from the game."Raenera answered breaking her trace.
"You play it quite well"
"I have no choice but to play it well. My life hangs in the balance Lord Varys" Raenera said turning to look at him before she turned back to the throne.
Lord Varys came to stand near her looking at the throne. He knew he was standing next to what could be a true player in the game later if things did not change. She knew the game better than most.
"I too at time wonder…Its amazing isn't it" Lord Varys said
"It cost me my family but what are you getting at?"
"You deserve it do you not think?"
"Deserved or not it will never come to pass King Robert reign is cemented with Joffery and Tommen regardless of their true parentage" Raenera stated as she turned walking away from the throne.
"You know." Lord Varys said slightly shocked
"I'm not blind or naïve Lord Varys" Raenera answered as she exit the room.
Lord Varys watched as she walked away with her head held high. She looked nearly every bit the princess she truly was. Once she left the room he truly wondered if she would ever accept she was destined to sit on that throne. He looked back to the throne as if speaking to the gods. He could almost see a crown on her head.
"A true dragon in sea of lions"
Most of Winterfell stood waiting for the king to arrive. Rickon stood next Catelyn. Catelyn was standing next to Ned then Robb then Sansa than Bran. Catelyn looked around noticing that Arya was missing.
"Where's Arya?" Catelyn asked.
Ned looked at her for moment wonder the same question.
"Sansa, where is your sister"
Arya came running with helmet on her head. Ned stopped her.
"Hey...Hey…hey what are you doing with that on?" Ned asked takes the helmet off her head.
Jon Snow smirks. Ned hands they helmet to Ser Rodrik Cassel.
"Go on" Ned said to Arya.
Arya made her way down the line.
"Move" Arya said shoving Bran.
They procession started to file into Winterfell. Sansa smiled as she saw Joffery. Robb looks at his sister then the Joffery who was wearing a smirk. The carriage carrying the queen and her younger children came followed shortly by the king. When he rode in they all dropped to their knees. The stable hand run on taking the reins for the king and another brought on a ridding block to help him down. King Robert got down and walked closer to the knelt Ned. He motions for them to stand.
"Your Grace" Ned said
"You got fat" King Robert said.
Ned looked down at him in way to so said not more than you. They both laugh and embrace. Then the king moved on to Catelyn.
"Cat" Robert said hugging her
"Your grace" Cat said
The king rubbed Rickon hair before he came back to stand in front of Ned.
"Nine years… why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?"
"Guarding the north for you, Your Grace… Winterfell is yours" Ned Stated
Cersei decent the steps of the carriage looking around the place with slight discuss. Robert moved down the line.
"Who do we have here? You must be Robb. My you're a pretty one. Your name is?" Robert said as moved down the line greet each of them.
"Arya" Arya answered.
Robert moved down to Bran.
"Show us your muscles. You'll be a solider" Robert said as Bran showed him his muscles.
Cersei made her way over to Ned.
"My queen" Ned said kissing her hand.
"My queen" Cat greeted her as she bowed her head.
"Take me to you crypt. I want to pay my respects" Robert ordered.
"We've been ridding for a month my love. Surely the dead can wait" Cersei tried to reason with him.
"Ned" Robert ordered.
Once in the crypts Ned and Robert walked in time with each other.
"Tell me about Jon Arryn" Ned asked.
"One minute he was fine and then it burned right through him, whatever it was…I love that man" Robert said.
"We both did"
"He never had to teach you much, but me? You remember me at sixteen. All I wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls. He showed me what was what" Robert commented.
"Aye" Ned laughed.
"Don't look at me like that. It's not his fault I didn't listen" Robert laughed.
They came to stop deep in the crypts. They were both laughing. Robert turned to look at Ned.
"I need you Ned; down at King's Landing not up here where you're no damn use to anybody. Lord Eddard Stark I would name you Hand of the King." Robert stated.
Ned looked sideways for a moment in shock then dropped down to his knees.
"I'm not worthy of the honor" Ned stated.
"I'm not trying to honor you. I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom while I eat, drink, and whore my way to early grave. Damn it Ned, stand up…" Robert started. He motion his hand tap Ned on the shoulder to get him to stand up. Ned rose to his feet. "You help me win the Iron Throne now help me keep the damn thing. We were meant to rule together. If your sister had lived we'd have been bound by blood. Well, it's not too late. I have a son, you have daughter. We'll join our houses" Robert finished.
Robert turned went farther into the crypts. Ned quickly let shock wear off then quickly followed him. When they were walking at the same time; Robert continued on with his plan.
"I have the will have your son, Robb, marry Lady Raena Arryn" Robert said looking at Ned.
"Jon Arryn's daughter" Ned asked shocked.
"It was her father's last wish to see her married to an honorable man. That why she is Lady Arryn now not Lady Stone. None are more honorable than you, Starks. They are same age; seventeen. It would tie all our houses together. Besides, she is quite a beauty with her haunting purple blue eyes. Her mother was related to the Daynes; I believe her mother name was Lilliyan. If I was only few years younger or if she was a few years older she would not stand a chance…if you get my meaning. She at time reminds me of your sister."
Ned took all the information in; he did not need to hear the last part about him want to lay with her. The only Lilliyan he remembered in any thing was Lilliyan Umber his sister best friends all those many years ago.
"Cat would never approve of her. How did you come to be in charge of finding her a match?" Ned asked.
"She is now a ward of the crown with Lady Lysa Arryn and her son in the wind leaving girl to fend for herself a noble otherwise I would not care. She has to make a good match to support me. She would be here now but with her in mourning I did not think it wise to make her travel such a distance just days after his passing. It is your son or one of the Gods damned Tyrell or Gods forbid another Lannister. Cersei had in her mind to wed her off to Joffery. But I forbid that match. She agreed with me "a bastard was not fit queen" her words I so agree with her; it was one of the times it was like speaking to Lyanna all over again."
They came to stop in-front of Lyanna grave. Robert stepped forward placing a feather in Lyanna stone hand. Ned was still processing the information it was now all his call.
"Did you have to bury her in a place like this?" Robert asked. Ned looked down for a moment. "She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and clouds above her." Robert continued
"She was my sister. This is where she belongs" Ned stated.
"She belonged with me. In my dreams I kill him every night." Robert stated touch Lyanna's stone statue face.
"It's done; Your Grace. The Targaryens are gone."
"Not all of them." Robert said gravely