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Chapter 15: Talk of war

298 AC – the King's Road

Eddard POV

The wind blew against Eddard's face, as he took in a breath, his eyes scanning the horizon. He was sitting down, with a slight breeze as he watched Robert walking back. "God's, this is country. Half mind to leave them all behind, and keep going" "Half a mind to go with you" "What do you say, Ned? Just you and me, swords at our hands on the King's road, maybe a few tavern girls to warm our beds?"

Eddard gave a slight smile, "If you asked me twenty years ago". Robert shook his head as he picked at his berries, "Wars to fight, women to marry, never the chance to be young" "I can recall a few chances" Eddard said while rubbing his chin. Robert would then bellow out a hearty laugh, followed by Eddard's quiet laugh, "Oh who was it? That common girl of yours, with the great big tits that you could bury your face in?" "Bessie? She, was one of yours"

"Bessie, thank the God's for Bessie and her tits" Robert gleefully said. "Yours was Aleena? You told me this once. Meryl? Your bastard's mother?" Eddard turned away, avoiding his friend's eyes, exhaling before replying "Wylla". "That's it. Must have been a rare wench to make Lord Eddard Stark to forget his honor. You never told me what she looked like?" "Nor will I" as Eddard looked off into the distance, with a heavy feeling on his chest. Robert set his cup down, taking a serious look, "We were at war, none of us knew if we were going back home. You are too hard on yourself, always have been. Honestly, if I wasn't your king, you hit me already".

"Worse part of your coronation, never get to hit you again," Eddard said with a grin on his face. "Trust me that is the least of our problems" Robert rummaged in his pockets, as he placed a small scroll on the table, "There was a rider in the night". Eddard took the scroll, unraveling and reading its contents "Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horse lord? Shall we send her a wedding gift?" "A knife and a bold man to wield it". Eddard exhaled an annoyed sigh, "Tell me we are not speaking of this".

"Oh, it's unspeakable to you? What the Mad King did to your brother and your father that was unspeakable, or the fact that Rhaegar Targaryen stole and raped your sister, the woman I loved". Eddard closed his eyes, pain taking him at the mention of Lyanna, "I swear on the God's I will kill every Targaryen I get my hands on" "You can't get your hands on this one can you". "This Khal Drogo, I heard he has a hundred thousand riders" "Even a million Dothraki is no threat to the kingdom, as long as we remain on the other of the Narrow Sea, THEY have no ships Robert" Eddard said as his voiced raised in volume.

"Yet, there are still whispers of people calling me usurper. If Viserys Targaryen lands with a Dothraki horde at his back, the scum will join him" "He will not cross, and by some chance he does, we'll throw him back into the sea". A tense followed as both men stared each other down, before Robert took his mug, his hand trembling "There's a war coming Ned. I don't when or who we'll be fighting, but it's coming". Worry gripped Eddard; he hoped that he could sway Robert's opinion of the Targaryens in due time. "Hey Ned, have you heard the rumors of the wolf?"

Ned froze, and his heart started to beat faster, "What rumors are you talking about?" "There have been sightings of a large wolf in these parts, killing many of the farm animals. The common folk have been terrified to go out at night. Tywin sent some of his men to deal with the beast; coming morning the entire party and their horses were mutilated". Eddard leaned back in his chair, taking in the information "Where were the bodies located?" "A few miles up north, close to Winterfell surprising". Eddard looked off to the distance thinking, "Ned, you alright. You seem tense". "I have encountered this beast you speak of; three years ago my children were attacked by what I would later be known as a werewolf. None of my children were hurt and I drove the beast away. I had Lord Bolton to hunt the beast down, found no sign of it for years".

"A werewolf eh?" Robert said before giving a hearty laugh, "Perhaps I should lend my hammer in taking down this werewolf. After all, this beast is no different from the wild game I hunt" "Robert, with respect this creature is no fawn. From what I have learned, the creature's only weakness is silver or Valyrian steel, every other weapon is useless against it. Plus it only emerges every full moon". "Why the full moon?" "Because it's a curse. Lord Bolton told me how a person infected with lycanthrope as the books say, said person transforms into a beast on the night of a full moon. One of my ancestors killed one, an ancient Bolton with this curse as well".

Robert sat back, as he down his cup, wiping away the liquid dripping from his beard. "Well then Ned, I want you to hunt this beast down and kill it" "Your Grace…" "Ned for God's sake, none of that your Grace to me, you hear? You know about the beast more than I do, so I put the matter in your hands. Besides once you do kill it, I can have its skull adorned in my chambers to view" Robert boasted with a hearty laugh.

Ned closed his eyes, giving a huff of annoyance; he never thought he had to deal with the beast once again. In truth, he did not want to have to kill said person, who was probably innocent and had no control over himself or herself that night. Hopeful, this would be the least of his worries when he arrived at the Capital.

Winterfell – 10 days till the next full moon

Sansa POV

Sansa was enjoying her day with her sister Arya, as she lay against one of the trees in the Godswood's as she watched Arya "practice" with her sword. A few days back, an assassin was sent to kill Bran, luckily, Bran's wolf was able to kill the assassin and mother only suffered injuries to her hands. Not long after, Bran would then wake from his slumber, however unable to walk again. Sansa, Robb, and Arya had tried questioning Bran if he remembered anything before he fell. Bran had continuously said he remembered nothing, most distressing was when he said he wished he were dead. Robb had chastised Bran, making a rift between the two of them. Sansa visited Bran many times, hoping to improve his mood, but never getting a smile from him.

Despite this recent event, mother would then suddenly leave for the capital. Sansa would then ask Robb why their mother was leaving; apparently, the dagger used by the assassin was of Valyrian steel. Robb told us that their mother had suspicions that the Lannisters were behind Bran's assassination attempt. I did not believe him at first and asked for any proof; however, Robb said mother was rather vague on why she distrusted the Lannisters.

After mother had left, Robb was given leadership of Winterfell. Routine had not changed much; it had stayed the same all around. Robb was doing quite well, proving himself to be quite capable of being Lord of Winterfell. "Why do you think the Lannisters tried to kill Bran?" Arya interjected the silence, "I don't know? Maybe he saw something he wasn't supposed to see". Arya scrunched her nose, as she twirled her sword 'needle', "They will pay for trying to kill Bran" "We don't know if they are the ones behind the act. Mother hasn't been clear on the details on why she suspects the Lannisters". Arya sheathed her sword as she sat next to Sansa, as a guard came in a hurry. "Lady Sansa, Lady Arya, Robb requests your presence in the hall.

Both sisters looked at one another, before following the guard as he led them to the Great Hall. As they entered, they saw Robb sitting at the head table, with Maester Luwin at his right. Tyrion Lannister with two Lannister guards, a man of the Knight's Watch they did not recognize, and Hodor holding Bran in his arms. "Ah, Lady Sansa and Lady Arya Stark, a pleasure to see you both again," Tyrion said as he bowed slightly, both Sansa and Arya returning the gesture. "Enough of your courtesies, Lord Lannister why are you here?"

"To the point like your father, I must admit I expected a warmer welcome, a bit more cold than usual". "Get out what you need to say Lannister" "Geez quite harsh aren't we boy?" "I'm not a boy, I'm Lord of Winterfell in my father's absence".

"Well, let's go straight to the reason for my stop" Tyrion reached into his robes, pulled out a scroll, gesturing to Bran to come to him. Hodor walked forward, kneeling so Bran could meet him at his level. "It is great to see you are doing well Bran" Bran nodded numbly, "Here, take this to your saddler, he'll provide the rest. You must shape with the horse to the rider; start with a yearling to the boy's voice".

"Will I be able to ride again?" Bran asked, "You will, you will rise higher than you ever have imagined". Sansa slightly gasped seeing Bran smile for just a moment, the first time since waking up did she see Bran happy. "Your gift is well appreciated Lannister, yet why do you do this?" "Quite simply, I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples, bastards, and broken things". "House Stark owes you in gratitude for my brother's condition, I shall room prepared for this instance" Tyrion waved his hand dismissively, "Spare me you false courtesies Lord Stark, there's a brothel outside your walls, I sleep easier there".

Tyrion would then walk write out of the halls accompanied by his guards, as Bran would direct Hodor to carry him to the Saddler. I watched as Robb began discussing something with Maester Luwin, as Arya followed after Bran. After Maester Luwin finished his discussion with Robb, I signaled him to talk in private as he led me to father's solar.

Robb POV

Robb opened the door, as he ushered Sansa into their father's solar. "How is being Lord of Winterfell faring for you?" "It's been alright so far, Maester Luwin has been a great help for me" Sansa nodded as she fidgeted with her dress. "Explain yourself" "What?" "Explain your behavior when you were addressing Tyrion Lannister".

Robb gritted his teeth, "Sansa, mother told us…" "No" Sansa interrupted, "As I told you before we don't know if the Lannisters are behind Bran's assassination. Besides, even if they were guilty, Tyrion seems to be the odd one out. He created a specialized saddle for Bran to ride again; this has been the first time I've seen Bran smile in days since he woke up".

Sansa's breathing slowed down and her facial features soften, as she took my hands in hers, "I understand your anger of wanting to find justice for Bran, but we have to be smart about this. Flying to accusations will do nothing, and if we did anything to Tyrion, there will be consequences". I nodded at my sister's words as I drew her into a hug, "Mother said she found some hair in the tower where Bran fell. She assumes that Bran saw something that he wasn't supposed to see".

Sansa pulled herself from my arms, "Bran could have spied on a secret conservation, perhaps that's why the assassin was sent, so that if he did remember he would be killed in preventing the secret from being leaked". I nodded as I walked to the window, seeing Tyrion Lannister leaving Winterfell, "Do you think Tyrion Lannister had no part in this?" Sansa rolled her eyes, "Ask yourself this: what benefit would Tyrion get from killing a cripple boy?" with that last remark Sansa exited the solar leaving me alone.

I stood there as I watched the citizens of Winterfell, was I even fit as a Lord? I rubbed my temples as I sat in my father's chair, wondering what my father would do.

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