Chapter 18

The fall of the great Lord

Ned

Ever since the royal wedding had been announced Ned had been so busy, he was lucky to get three hours of sleep a night. He had been negotiating with the Queen of Thorns about how big the wedding needed to be. Joffrey had left everything to do with the wedding up to Ned. The Tyrell's wanted an extravagant affair whereas Ned thought a smaller but still elegant wedding was more appropriate with the food shortages.

Luckily Joffrey had banned his mother from the negotiating table, so Ned only had one difficult woman to try and placate. The queen of thorns lived up to her reputation completely, she cared not for civility or for watching her words no matter who it was she was directing her words at. Luckily Ned had the power, and she knew this. The wedding would be a moon hence and would be in the Sept of Balor followed by a reception with seven courses instead of the seventy the Tyrell's suggested at first.

Luckily it was one rare afternoon when Ned could sit and finally pen some long overdue letters to his family. He started with Cat.

Dearest Cat,

It has been so long Cat. I can only apologise, the toll being hand has taken of me is more than we expected. I have found nothing with what we discussed before I left but I will continue. I must tell you Sansa is here with me and safe, she and Arya had an adventure together and got separated. Arya is making her way to you, but I sent guards out to try and protect her. I instructed them to take her to you. The capital is not for her Cat. If it was safe, I would have Sansa sent also.

Joffrey has changed since Robert's passing; he has come to rely on and enjoy my guidance. Under the tough exterior was just a little boy not unlike Brandon. I know we are embattled in war with the Lannister's, but he is not a Lannister he is Robert's son. A Baratheon. I have worked to lessen Lannister presence at court and will send a separate letter to Rob.

Be Safe my love and I hope to see you soon.

Yours always,

Ned.

He sat back and rubbed his eyes; he could really do with a rest he thought looking at his bed wistfully, but duty came first so again he put quill to parchment and wrote to his oldest and his heir.

Robb,

I am so proud of how you have marshalled our armies and fought the battles you have. I have been working in the capital to minimise Lannister influence and have succeed in doing so.

I am safe as is Sansa. Arya is making her way to the Riverlands, and I have send guards to try and catch and accompany her.

My orders as Lord Stark are for you to defend the Riverlands and keep Jamie Lannister until I send word. However, do not advance out of the Riverlands. The king finds us favourable and we cannot risk his displeasure having Sansa here.

As your father my orders are to be safe. Keep your mother and siblings safe. Maybe write to Jon I'm sure you miss each other; tell him I miss him too.

I will see you soon son.

Father.

Ned only had one more thing he must do before he could finally rest.

"Jory!" Ned raised his voice only pausing a second before the door opened. "Send for Sansa. It's time we had a talk."

It was several minutes before a small knock on the door roused Ned from where he had nodded off.

"You called for me father?" Sansa said quietly as she entered. She looked awful. It had been a couple of weeks since he had set physical eyes on her, but he could tell she had lost weight and her eyes were red rimmed. Her hair was unbrushed and looked like an orange halo around her head.

"Sansa." Ned gasped.

"I'm ok Father." Sansa tried.

He wrapped his arms around her and as soon as he did, she burst into tears, it took him several minutes to calm her and he waited until she wiped the tears off her face.

"What's the matter? Has somebody hurt you?" Ned asked.

"No. I swear it. I just didn't get the answer I wanted. I have no other options but to marry Loris Tyrell." She held it together, but Ned could see he could crumble if he responded wrong.

"Of course, you have options Sansa. If you are truly against the match, I will deny it myself." Ned said truly meaning it.

"I must marry. I know this. I have bled father. I am a woman grown. I'm also aware that it is a good match and important for the north. I just imagined different." Sansa said.

"I'm proud you recognise that Sansa, but I would let the world burn if it pleased you and your mother." Ned said.

Sansa smiled. "Thank you, father. No. This match is a good one. I have had my time to mourn what I thought I had. Agree to the match, make the arrangements. I'll marry Loras Tyrell."

Joffrey

The morning of his wedding found Joffrey Baratheon mediating a meeting between his grandfather and his hand. He had demanded that the war that was ravaging his kingdom was concluded before he married. He tried to organise it within the moon between the battle and his wedding but both men had been resistant to the idea.

He was in the small council chamber with both men sat across the table from each other neither man speaking, and Joffrey grew impatient.

"You are both men grown. Your houses may be at war, but you two men have the power to stop it, thousands of men are dying and you two are too stubborn to talk to each other." Joffrey said after twenty minutes of silence.

"He has my son." Tywin eventually said.

"Your son is a prisoner of war." Ned said.

"I want him back, unharmed." Tywin said with a lace of threat in his voice.

"You invaded the Riverlands. You caused this war. My father-in-law is incapacitated so I took up the fight." Ned said slowly.

"I propose I get my son back and keep the lands we won and then we will retreat." Tywin said.

"No." Ned replied.

"I think that is fair. The lands are mine by right of conquest. Jamie is my heir he needs to be returned." Tywin said his eyes flashing.

"The war was fought on wrong pretences. If you claim the lands, I claim your son." Ned said with a small smile.

"This is preposterous!" Tywin said standing.

Joffrey knew he had to intervene. "I propose that Lord Stark returns my uncle whole. I also propose that the lands are returned under the control of Lord Tully. Forget this war happened. Bring peace back to the seven kingdoms and start my reign as the king who brought peace rather than war." Joffrey was happy to see pride in Lord Stark's face and a thoughtful look on his Grandsires.

"That would be acceptable to the north." Ned said.

"I suppose having my grandson being seen as a great king would be of use to the west." Tywin said.

"Brilliant. I have the paper's right here for you to sign and we can have this whole disagreement over with." Joffrey said missing the flash in his grandfather's eyes.

As witnesses to the signing were being summoned Joffrey's mind went to his future bride. She had such big brown eyes that Joffrey could get lost in when he spoke to her. Margery was unfailingly kind and understanding even when people spoke behind her back about her ex-husband. Joffrey really hoped he could be a better husband to his wife than his father was to his mother. He wanted to be more like Ned and Lady Stark who he could tell still loved each other even after many years together. It was lucky that Margery enjoyed every pursuit that Joffrey did; hawking, riding, watching men fight and even a new pursuit of Joffrey's reading the histories of the kingdoms.

Once the peace terms were signed Tywin walked out without a backwards glance, but Ned lingered until everybody else had left.

"Are you ready to be a married man?" Ned asked with a smile.

"Mostly." Joffrey smiled back. "She's a lovely woman and I know she will make a great king."

"But?" Ned asked sensing a hesitation.

"Is it possible to be too perfect? I feel I don't measure up. I am really trying to be the man I know you've helped me become but I still often get these rages and am unable to think properly." Joffrey admitted.

"Margery Tyrell is not perfect. Just as I am not. My wife is not. No person is. The fact you see her as such is a testament to your feelings for her. Marriage is about learning the flaws and loving them anyway." Ned patted Joffrey on the shoulder and made to leave when Joffrey stopped him.

"Lord Stark. Ned. My father. He never, he never spoke to me about marital relations. I know the mechanics but is there anything else I should know?" Joffrey asked haltingly, his face beat red.

"Just take your time getting to know her body and be gentle. Sex is scary for a woman and hurt's her first time." Ned said and Joffrey just nodded and went to his rooms to get ready for his wedding.

Next up the wedding! Coming later this week.

xxxcrazyxladyxxx