Eddard

"My Lord, the Queen requires your presence in the throne room."

It's the time then, Eddard thought.

It has been two weeks since Robert's disappearance. Now all of King's Landing knew of the missing monarch, and they were demanding answers. Obviously, the Lannisters had been spreading rumours of his death, but Ned knew the truth. Until they find a corpse, Robert is alive in his heart.

Cersei Lannister finally decided to take action, probably demanding his submission under Joffrey's rule. That won't happen, and he's prepared.

Renly has amassed a host of Baratheon guards loyal to him alongside the City Watch. He had found an agreement with Lord Baelish to ensure their loyalty in the standoff. It troubled Ned how easy it was to sway them to any cause with a meagre amount of coin. That must be rectified in the future.

Eddard prepared his household for conflict. The Stark footmen weren't many, but were primarily veterans of the Rebellion. They were under the command of Jory, and would be split into two groups: one will be at the throne room, while the other would clear the keep. If all goes south, they would retreat outside the keep with the entire household and regroup.

Most importantly, he found a safe way to smuggle his daughters outside King's Landing. Ned met Yoren, a wandering crow, who assured him that he would care for the girls in case something went awry. His caravan had already left in the morning. Syrio Forel, Arya's Water Dancing teacher, swore to defend his daughters and joined them. Sansa and Arya would safely reach the North and rejoin their family, Eddard was sure of it.

Barristan had left King's Landing three days beforehand with a sizeable company of knights and warriors. Figures such as Beric Dondarrion, Thoros of Myr, and Anguy joined him, with many others. Most, if not all of them, held King Robert in high esteem and felt obliged to at least help find his remains.

Eddard entered the throne room alongside Renly, both in plate armour and accompanied by many guards. It was filled to the brim with Gold Cloaks and Lannister men, their weapons ranging from long pikes to spears. On the Iron Throne sat Joffrey, a smug grin on his lips, playing with a jewelled dagger. Cersei was just below him, confident despite their smaller numbers. That made Ned wary, mayhaps the woman had a trick in her sleeves. Four Kingsguard stood at the foot of the throne, all clad in their white armour. All four seemed uneased, as most of their brothers-in-arms were missing.

"All hail King Joffrey of House Baratheon, first of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms!" The herald announced.

One could cut the air with a knife. Uneasiness was palpable. No one truly knew how this standoff would end.

"Lord Stark, uncle." The spawn of incest spoke, "I am glad to have you here. I assume you are ready to swear loyalty?"

Neither of them spoke. Silence reigned in the room, the tension high. The "King" narrowed his eyes, "I order for the council to commence all preparations. I wish to be crowned within the fortnight."

Another grave, long silence. Cersei Lannister appeared to seethe, "Lord Eddard, last time we spoke you offered me some counsel. Let me return the favour: bend the knee, my Lord. Swear your loyalty to my son."

Eddard's face was solemn as he answered, "I bend my knee to only one king, whose name is Robert Baratheon. Your son holds no claim on this throne, Cersei. Lay off your arms, and no harm will come to you."

"LIES!" Joffrey screeched, but Cersei interrupted him by raising her hand.

"Robert Baratheon is dead," she said, "Tragically ambushed by Targaryen loyalists. We will make sure that those traitors face justice, sooner or later. His son, Joffrey Baratheon, is the first in line for the throne: you have no right to refute his claim, my Lord."

Laugher broke into the room. It was Renly, a smirk tinging his face, "Targaryen loyalists? That's awfully convenient, my Lady. Ser Barristan and I have interrogated one of the culprits, who admitted that King Robert narrowly escaped, throwing himself in a river. And the irony... not only you're not King, but neither a Princeling! Your brotherfucking mother didn't even spread her legs for my good brother, her cunt was instead open for any relative to claim!"

"I will not tolerate this slander any longer!" Cersei looked at the Red Cloaks, "Men of House Lannister! Capture the traitors so that they may face the King's justice!"

"Warriors of the North!" Eddard bellowed, "Fight for Winterfell. Fight for the true king, Robert Baratheon!"

"Stormlanders, at my command! Fight for my kin, for Robert!" Shouted Renly.

"MEN OF THE WATCH!" A gruff voice ordered.

The status quo broke.

Eddard unsheathed Ice, ready to face anyone in his way. Around him, plenty of colours were warring against each other: yellow and grey against red and...

...Gold.

Gods be good, traitors in the midst of the Watch!

Or so it seemed. They were fighting each other. All order in the ranks of the City Watch was gone, everyone stabbing their fellow men at arms, tainting their cloaks red. Janos Slint was caught in a clinch and got his head crushed into a pulp by a halberd.

Ned faced a Lannister soldier, armed with mace and shield. The man used his shield as cover to close off the distance, but Ned masterfully spaced him with a half-grip. Once the Stark felt safe, he reverted the grip and swung the greatsword, arching it downwards. The shield wasn't able to hold off the blade's weight, and the soldier got nearly sliced in two.

Another one approached him, trying his luck. Eddard's visage turned grim once he noticed it was a young man, eager to prove his valour on the battlefield. Only that this wasn't one, this was a slaughterhouse.

The soldier opened with a slash, aiming at Ned's exposed chainmail. The Lord of the North parried it and deflected the blow to his crossguard. He used the momentum to hit his enemy in the head with Ice's pommel, which dazzled the young man at arms. Ned then stabbed forward, the Valyrian steel piercing the breastplate as if it was made of butter. Hit in the heart, the lad crumbled on the ground and died.

The flow of battle continued. Ned duelled other four opponents, all returned to the earth. Renly was fighting with all the grace of a tourney knight, while being deadly with live steel. The opposing sides were equally matched, but the fight became a bloodbath for both.

The four Kingsguards were fighting among each other too. Eddard saw Boros Blount being skewered by Arys Oakheart while Preston Greenfield was clobbered to death by Meryn Trant.

The present members of the City Watch were all dead. Their bodies littered the grounds of the throne room, all crimson with blood.

Ned glimpsed Cersei and Joffrey escaping, accompanied by the Hound and three guards.

"Eddard, we must go too!" Renly shook him off, "It's best to regroup and create a new plan!"

For how much Eddard loathed it, Robert's brother was right. Staying there further would expend too much of their forces and jeopardise their cause.

"Northmen! Fall back, follow me!"

They reached the courtyard in a mad dash, which was a spectacle by itself.

A horrible one.

Soldiers, servants, courtiers... amassed in a small hill of corpses. Some were still fighting, trying not to lose their balance by stepping on someone. The weapons of the dead were scattered around, all coated in blood. Eddard recognised Ser Aaron Santagar, his corpse was impaled by three war darts.

Eddard thanked the Gods as he saw Jory, hale and healthy. "My Lord!" He cried in joy, "Is the hold secure?"

Ned shook his head, "Nay, it's a bloody mess. We can't stay here any longer, it's too risky. We must move our forces out of the Red Keep and draft new plans."

The Cassel's smile fell, "I see..."

"The Dragonpit..." Renly muttered, "It's defensible and empty, most importantly. We will occupy it, build some barricades and hope reinforcements come soon."

It was a good course of action, Eddard had to admit. "You heard Lord Renly. Jory, rally the men outside, we'll start making our way to the- "

"My Lord Hand!"

It was a man clad in a bloody white plate. Arys Oakheart, he managed to survive the carnage!

"Ser Arys, it's good to see you alive!" Renly smiled, "Any news from the inside?"

"My Lords," he began, "The royal family retired inside the Maidenvault, and the remaining Lannisters are patrolling the corridors. I narrowly escaped after finishing off Ser Trant."

Good, Eddard thought—fewer pawns for Cersei to use against them.

"My Lords, let us make haste!" Renly said, "To the Dragonpit!"

The party forced through the keep's gate quickly enough. The guardsmen were barely armed and even less trained for combat. They made their way into the streets of King's Landing, among the panicking peasants.

Eddard shall continue his fight, for it is the honourable thing to do.

Arya

Arya feared for her Father.

He believed that the capital was no longer safe and that Sansa and Arya should return home, to Winterfell. That means something wrong happened with the King's death, or disappearance, as Father insisted.

He didn't explain much, only that the queen wanted him gone. Arya then asked why he didn't come with them, and Father's silence told her everything.

They were given under Yoren's protection, alongside Syrio. The Wandering Crow smelt foul and was ugly to look at. Sansa's face was perpetually contorted into a grimace when around him, the prickly twat she was.

Arya had asked Father why he was sending them with the watchmen, and he promptly answered that the Queen had blocked most options for escape. Sansa was bummed with the outcome, but they couldn't do much.

They were now in a dark alley near the caravan. "As you know, the Night's Watch takes men and boys from the city," he said while grasping his dagger, "Now hold still, boys. We can't alert curious eyes." The sour man held her tight, cutting all her tangled hair. Only the barest remained.

"Come here," he gestured to Sansa, "It will be harder to hide you, but I have a solution."

Sansa squealed while clutching her locks, backing away from the man. "No, please!" She said, "Not my hair! It will take ages to make it grow again!"

Arya was about to berate her, but Syrio placed a hand on her shoulder, "Sansa, you can't keep your hair. The Queen surely has the gate guards on the lookout for any highborn girl with red hair, and there aren't many here in King's Landing. It's too much of a risk, young girl."

That got Sansa blushing in shame. It would only create problems with Father if they got caught. Arya couldn't imagine what the vile Queen would do with them. She begrudgingly let Yoren cut off her hair, making it similar to Arya's, who could barely contain his laughter once seeing the result.

Yoren passed her sister some leather wraps, "Put it around your bosoms and waist. It will hide your curves."

They had to dirty themselves next. It would be odd for simple peasants who wish to join the Watch to be completely clean. Syrio wore some rags, too. He blended perfectly with the others.

Yoren grunted in approval, "This will do well enough," he said, "Passing the gate will be easy. I have a friend there that will let us pass without much of a hassle. The problem will be the journey itself. The men here are not like your bastard brother. They would turn you in to the Queen for half a pardon. So keep it all for yourselves, and piss in the woods."

And so, they became Arry and Sandor, the orphan brothers, while Syrio would play the part of a drunken Braavosi sailor who cut a poor innkeeper's tongue. Arya just hoped Father survived and that Prince Joffrey choked on his food. Yoren gave them three donkeys to ride. At least it was better than going in the wagons.

Passing the gates was easy, the guards didn't even bother to look at the prisoners. As they exited King's Landing, shouts and orders were being cried on the walls; most of the soldiers on patrol duty left their posts and started running towards the Red Keep.

"Arry, what's happening?" Sansa asked. Her fake boy voice was surprisingly believable, considering she was more... developed than Arya. Other boys always fawned over her beauty and Grace, while she was just Arya Horseface. She now felt an odd sense of satisfaction seeing her sister covered in mud and without long hair. It felt like Arya won for one time. Even Septa Mordane would berate Sansa for her uncouthness. Yet... she felt sad too. Sansa really cared about her looks, and now... they're ruined.

"I don't know. It seems like something is going on inside." Arya finally answered.

"I hope Father is alright."

"Me too, Sandor, me too."

Pissing wasn't so hard as Yoren said. Everyone would just ignore them, minus two little shits.

Hot Pie and Lommy Greenhands. The pair bullied Sansa and Arya because of their silence, saying they were afraid or stupid. They were orphans who joined the Watch to have somewhere to eat and sleep.

"Look at that! Lumpyhead has a sword!" Said Lommy, three days after they departed, "I wonder where he took it."

"It's none of your business!" Arya answered venomously.

"Oh, you stole it then." Teased Hot Pie. The boy was round like a ball, Arya didn't even comprehend how someone from Flea Bottom managed to get so fat. He remembered her of Lord Manderly, that's someone who couldn't even ride a horse.

"Shut up!" Sansa stood between them, "Arry did nothing wrong. Why are you hurting him!?"

Lommy laughed, "Look now, he needs help from his brother. Little Arry is going to wet his pants!"

"Leave him be."

It was the Bull. Lommy dubbed him like this because of the helm he always carried around. He was very tall and muscled. The boy could probably crack a skull with his bare hands. No one tried to mess with him, he was scary sometimes.

But Hot Pie continued, saying that he once killed someone by kicking him in the balls a hundred times and that Arya didn't know how to use a sword. That was probably the most ridiculous lie she had ever heard.

Arya lost her patience. She leapt off her donkey, dragging Hot Pie down. She whacked him over and over with her practice sword, which was in her belt. They fought for some time, until Yoren and Syrio broke them off. The Wandering Crow scolded her, saying that they couldn't attract much attention to themselves, but she didn't care. Hot Pie was mean to both of them and deserved what came for him.

Later that night, Arya slept near Sansa, whose eyes were red after crying. The two embraced each other, dreaming of times that would never come again.

Well, as you've seen things have gone differently. Eddard is more careful due to the different nature of his plan, and sends Arya and Sansa with Yoren. How the Chaos of King's Landing is going to unfold, well... that's some nasty business.

Hope you enjoyed this new chapter!