Chapter 3
Notes:
Presenting chapter 3 for your reading enjoyment. Just as a forewarning, some things might seem out of character for some characters. Just take into account that I'm blending book and show lore.
There will be a more in depth note at the end.
(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)
Chapter Text
(North – Two weeks before King Robert's arrival)
Eddard sat in his hall as Lord Tywin Lannister approached, there was a part of him that wanted to give the command to his Direwolf to attack. He could feel her tense at his side, the beasts were not only smart enough to understand commands, but they could also sense the feelings of their partners. Eddard had witnessed Nymeria snap at a servant boy who'd called Arya horse face while she was in earshot and had seen Shaggy Dog fetch Catelyn when Rickon had fallen and scrapped his knee. He was pleased Catelyn had finally ceased her attempts to have the wolves cast out, though she wasn't pleased his wolf shared their chambers now that the pups had taken to staying with his children.
He registered the surprised look on Tywin's face as he took note of the Direwolf. Eddard motioned a servant forward with bread and salt, "Lord Lannister, be welcome to Winterfell, please accept this offering of bread and salt."
"I accept the offering, and intern promise to behave in kind," Once Tywin had partaken of the customary offerings of guest rights, he drank the offered wine to wash away the taste, "Lord Stark, I had not heard your sigil had returned to life."
Eddard smirked at the jape, "She is a recent addition to Winterfell, but she and her pups have made themselves at home."
"She?" Tywin knew from what he experienced that the mother of the Stark children's wolves was dead.
"Aye," Eddard ran his hand along the Direwolf's neck, which made the tension in her frame ebb away, "a few weeks ago I took an evening ride through the Wolf's Wood. My horse got spooked as I came upon my friend here fighting the largest stag I have ever seen. I was thrown by my horse but had the presence of mind to grab my sword before the dumb animal bolted into the night. I did not wish to be gored so used Ice to remove the stag's antlers. She did the rest of the work and accompanied me back to Winterfell."
Tywin noted they were alone in the room, the servant having departed after giving him the wine, "Lord Stark, by chance, had you been ill with a rather prolonged fever recently. One that gave you dreams of a certain nature."
"Perhaps, would I be wrong in assuming that you have had a similar experience?" Eddard glared down at the older man, both knowing how paper thin the custom of guest rights would become. Eddard stood, "This is not a conversation for such a place, come with me."
At first, Tywin expected to follow Lord Stark to his solar, so was surprised when they left the keep and entered the godswood, "Is it not easier for people to spy upon us here?"
"Only the gods and they already know all that we shall be discussing," Eddard leaned his sword against the heart tree before taking a seat on one of its roots, "Come, the gods rely on men to strike down those who have wronged them and my Direwolf only attacks if I command her to."
"How well trained she is for being a wild animal mere weeks ago," Tywin wiped fallen red leaves from another root and took a seat. It was then he understood why Eddard brought them here. Anyone who wished to listen in to their conversation would have to approach from a direction with a clear line of sight, "I take it many private conversations are held here?"
"The gods keep their council, and you southerners tend to ignore we still exist unless you wish us to fight in your wars." Eddard looked to where a child had darted from behind a bush, he had discovered three little birds had found their way into Winterfell. He'd used them to send a message to Varys, two were on their way to King's Landing with the message, and the third had taken to bringing him notes about the goings on within Winterfell. Eddard noticed Tywin had also noticed the spy, "Ignore her, she works for me now. One of Varys little birds, if he wasn't already cut, I'd castrate him myself for what he's done to them."
Tywin nodded, "I have a few lurking about the Rock. Have yet to catch them though, how did you do it?"
"Varys made a mistake if that is not hard to believe. He underestimated my people. The kitchen staff noticed them first and took them in, basic jobs of cleaning and bringing in wood from the stacks to stoke the cooking fires." Eddard glared, his grey eyes turning hard as steel, "One of the ones I sent back to King's Landing was a Summer Islander, she was not suited to this climate, and became ill. Maester Luwin was called down to see to her. When he saw that her tongue had been cut out, he checked the other two and summoned me. When I learned they could read and write, I knew exactly what they were."
This caused Tywin to understand Varys' mistake, at most keeps orphan children were not taken in by the servants. In fact, most servants would chase such children away, but not here in the North. Added to that Winterfell's maester cared for the small folk along with the family of his liege lord. Tywin mused, "I will need to have a word with my servants, it seems little birds are easier to catch when employing honey instead of the stick. How much of a vision did your son give you?"
"None," Ned avoided eye contact, "whomever that boy was, he may have looked like my son, but he was not him. He was a stranger, someone I have never met in my life, and I hope to never meet again." Eddard glared, "He showed me everything, and something he said is starting to make sense. He said very few others would receive as much of a warning as I had. I am not sure how to dissuade Robert from naming me as Hand, I am needed here preparing for what's to come."
Tywin shook his head, "We need you in King's Landing, we would have heard if Robert had taken ill with a fever. At the very least I would have had word from that insufferable daughter of mine."
"You know what she and her brother did to my son?" Eddard snarled.
"Aye," Tywin glared back, "why do you think I made haste to arrive before those self-indulgent incestual fools? I have half a mind to have Cersei take a walk of atonement from here to Oldtown. I am trying to salvage what I can from the mess they made. I will attempt to persuade Robert to release Myrcella and Tommen to me, let me claim them as Lannister, and legitimize Tommen as my heir."
Eddard balked, "You want Joffrey to remain Robert's heir?"
"By all the gods old and new, no," Tywin scoffed, "I'll see the boy either sent to the Wall or dead. He is as bad as Aerys ever was, and I cannot lay all the blame upon my daughter's coddling. He executed you without trial after you agreed to recant your accusations of him not being Robert's son. The way he treated women, especially your daughter was inexcusable."
"At least we can agree on that, but that still leaves us the problem of Robert lacking a legitimate heir," Ned frowned, "Stannis may not yet be under the thralldom of that Red Priestess, but like you said we have not heard of him having fallen ill with a fever. To pass him over for Renly, would only invite another war we cannot permit with what is to come."
Tywin nodded, "That is another reason I have come to you, you may be amenable to this proposal seeing you have sheltered a member of their family." Ned frowned as Tywin continued, "Aegon is the rightful king, and before you state that Robert's claim is valid by right of conquest, he did not claim the throne on those terms. He claimed it by his right through his Targaryen grandmother. We need the three heads united; we both saw what occurred when they did not work together. Your boy died alone here with what was left of your House and my sons. His brother and aunt were too busy fighting over scraps and died for their ignorance."
Ned glared, "You would have me turn my cloak for the dragons? Robert would raise both our Houses regardless if your daughter is his wife just for us having this conversation. You as well as anyone should know how he feels about anyone with the name Targaryen."
"Indeed," Tywin mused, "that is why I needed your assistance. I plan to have Robert take his cousin Rhaegar's surviving sons and his cousin Daenerys as his wards. We then suggest he make Aegon his heir, Robert remains on the throne his remaining days, and the remaining Targaryen can live safely in Westeros and prepare to aid us all when the Long Night comes."
Ned frowned, "This would have been easier if Jon were still alive. Everyone on this continent thinks too highly of my ability to sway that great lummox. You know he fell in love with a portrait of my sister that had been sent to me at the Eyrie. The two of them only met twice in their entire lives, Lyanna hated him at first sight, she knew the kind of man he was. The rest of us were just blind to his faults."
"Lord Stark," Tywin sighed, "I must also apologize for something else. I have reversed my decision regarding the tragedy that occurred during the sack of King's Landing. You and many others blame me for what happened to Princess Elia and her children, I can say honestly, and I would swear to the gods, I did not give the order. What I am at fault for is being a father who loved his daughter, had it become common knowledge Cersei in her pettiness had given such an order. I know you love your daughters Lord Stark; we both know you would even sacrifice your vaunted honor if it meant their safety."
Ned paled, "Cersei gave the order?"
"Yes," Tywin admitted, "I have sent a letter to Dorne that should have arrived by now. I expect Oberyn or one of his daughters will make an appearance eventually to enact their horrible vengeance. I doubt you were shown my exact fate but suffice it to say Tyrion's crossbow while not intentional was truly an act of mercy."
(Highgarden – Around the same time)
Mace stood with Willas as they watched the wheelhouse approach. Willas sighed from beside his father, "You did not have to come, father. Prince Oberyn has just come for a visit with me, it is nothing official."
"Please, son, the Red Viper of Dorne does not come simply on a whim. The man wants something," Mace looked to the young man at his side, "Besides, it is important I greet any guest to Highgarden, especially if they are as influential as Prince Oberyn."
Willas grimaced as he adjusted his stance, putting more weight on his cane, "Probably got nervous about the letter I sent about your illness. He's been wanting me to take his daughter Obara as a bodyguard, or a paramour." At his father's look, Willas raised his free hand defensively, "It's just a jape father, he knows I'd never treat a young lady, even one of low birth, like a whore."
"Good," Mace frowned, "but perhaps we can consider the bodyguard angle. She is rather skilled with that spear of hers is she not?"
Willas sighed as he watched the wheelhouse stop, and the door opened. Oberyn stepped out followed quickly by Obara, the Prince then turned back to the wheelhouse to help each of his daughters exit, though the second and third each carried one of the youngest two. As they approached Oberyn gave an exaggerated bow, "Lord Tyrell, Lord Paramount of the Reach and Warden of the South, it is a pleasure to be in your presence once more." The prince motioned to his daughters, "you remember my lovely daughters of course."
"Indeed," Mace fought back the urge to scowl at the man's proclivity to parade around his shame, "I must apologize in advance. Willas had arranged rooms for your daughters near your own in the guest wing, but mother learned of this and demanded we move them to servants' quarters."
"I see," Oberyn's eyes narrowed, taking on more of the viper appearance he was lauded for, "in that case they shall room with me. I'll admit it has been some time since I've had to share a bed with either Obara or Nymeria, but the little ones often come to their mother and I when they have nightmares."
Willas enjoyed the particular shade of red creeping up his father's neck, as he no doubt realized the heat of Dorne made it common knowledge that most Dornish slept in the nude. Those from the more prudish kingdoms often had trouble with the concept when visiting their southern neighbors. During a visit to the Watergarden a year after his accident, Willas had turned so red when Tyene had entered his room in only her small clothes, to help him prepare for bed at the request of her uncle, that she thought he was about to succumb to heatstroke.
Offering to escort Oberyn and his daughters to their chamber, Willas watched his father leave, "He has been funny since the fever, I'm not sure the thought of you laying with all eight of your daughters sprawled around you didn't just send him over the edge."
"Come now my friend," Oberyn preened, "do not tell me your Thorny grandmother got one over on you."
Willas chuckled, "Of course not, my prince, I expected her to insert herself in any goings on in Highgarden. I arranged for you to have the larger guest chambers. The one with adjoining chambers for children and personal attendants. There should be enough space as long as the girls group up as usual, and I am not mistaken Nymeria will find her way to my brother's room."
Nymeria smirked, "Garlan sent me the most interesting poetry, I did not know he knew so many flowers that paled to my beauty. His wife is here, no?"
"Lady Leonette is in attendance yes," Willas mused, "she'd have come to welcome you, but appearance must be kept. Margaery has invited the younger girls to attend her sewing circle if they are so inclined. I've warned her no meanness will be tolerated."
Oberyn snorted, "Your brother is married, and he and his wife welcome my sweet Nymeria to their bed, yet you spurn my dear Obara. If you were not my dearest friend Willas, I would take offense."
"I blame Nymeria for seducing my brother and good sister before their marriage," Willas retorted, "of all the Sand Snakes, she most takes after you."
"True, but I tend to see a bit of myself in each of them," Oberyn noticed Willas wince as he put weight on his bad leg, "you have kept to the routines I instructed you, have you not?"
Willas shook his head, "I've been too busy the last few weeks acting in my father's stead. Between handling petitioners, meetings with vassals and banners, and meetings with my grandmother. I have been too tired in the evening."
Oberyn nodded, "Is it the same room you put Ellaria and I in during our last visit?" At Willas's nod, Oberyn motioned to Tyene who quickly moved to Willas's side, "Tyene will see to you this evening Willas, and tomorrow we will see how far you've regressed."
Willas nodded, "Thank you Oberyn."
"What are friends for," Oberyn responded.
Tyene helped Willas to his chambers, "You have not been this bad in years, my lord." The blond Sand Snake huffed, "Father is going to be furious."
Willas chuckled, "I am crippled, what is the difference if there is pain when I put weight on my leg? At least I still have the leg."
"The difference," Tyene glared, "is whether you wish to present yourself as a strong ruler or let yourself go and be ridiculed as a fat oaf like your father."
Willas narrowed his gaze at the Sand Snake, "Watch yourself Tyene, I will not have you bad mouth my father under his own roof. I know you and your sisters hold no love for him, especially after the way he decried your father after the accident.
Elsewhere, Oberyn found himself being summoned to Mace's solar. He entered the room to find he was not the only one summoned. Randyll Tarly and Paxter Redwyne were already seated awaiting him. Mace nodded to the Red Viper, "Good we are all present."
Oberyn frowned, "I feel like the lamb being used to bait the jackal."
"Trust me," Paxter huffed, "you want to be here."
Mace sighed, "Leyton has departed for the North, by ship he should reach Winterfell about the time the royal party does. He will do what he can to warn Lord Stark without making himself look completely insane. How goes the preparations for winter?"
Tarly leaned forward, "I've made the rounds, the farms are swapping to long-lasting crops and setting up the glass gardens. Most floral farms are converting to edible crops. I recently received news that Lord Lannister has issued a proclamation in the Westerlands. He is giving a stipend of ten gold dragons to the family of each volunteer for the Night's Watch. The first ships of volunteers leave Lannisport on the first of the month."
Oberyn watched as Mace rubbed his chin in thought, "Can we afford to do the same?"
Paxter shook his head in the negative, "We're already stretching the coffers gathering Valarian steel and dragonglass. I've sent word to all the houses that you want every cell emptied, and all prisoners brought to the Arbor for transport to the Wall. Prisoners aren't as reliable as volunteers, but beggars can't be choosers."
As confusion clouded his face Oberyn paused the conversation by raising his hand, "I must have missed something, when did the Citadel announce the seasons changing? Are we not still in summer?"
"For now," Tarly growled out, "but such a long summer only means an equally long winter. We cannot allow ourselves to be unprepared. The Reach is the only kingdom that can provide ample harvests regardless of the season. The rest of the Seven Kingdoms rely on us to feed their people during the winter."
"Yes, yes," Oberyn sighed, "and at extortionist prices."
Mace shook his head, "No, those days are gone. From now on we trade food at cost."
"At cost," Oberyn blinked, "I cannot believe your mother has agreed to such a thing."
"My mother can join the silent sisters if she thinks to bully me into changing my mind," Mace growled out, "she does not realize we are playing a much higher stakes game than she. She is playing with crowns and imaginary power; we play with gods and demons."
(North – A few days before Robert Arrives)
Tywin watched as Lord Stark interacted with his family, it was unlike most family dynamics he was used to. Of course, he'd been distant with his children when they were growing up. He'd even once threatened Cersei with wedding her to the now Lord Stark when he was just the second son to the Warden of the North. Only now does he realize that would have been an insult to the Starks.
It was just passing midday when he spotted her and her Direwolf skirting around the edge of the training yard. Arya Stark was the only one of Lord Stark's children to take after him in coloring. The oldest boy and girl both shared their father's overall facial shape, but the auburn hair and blue eyes of House Tully. "You are thinking about what we saw."
Turning to find Lord Stark and his own Direwolf approaching, Tywin nodded, "She almost succeeded in stopping that thing."
"I would not put my daughter through such horrors," Ned crossed his arms, "but I agree. The gods marked her by giving her the look of my House, and the wolf's blood is stronger in her than any of my living kin."
Tywin smirked, "Sandor Clegane is by now aware of his inheritance of Clegane's Keep and has been knighted by his brother." He noticed Ned's frown, "I am sending Gregor to the Wall, he should arrive here with Robert to admit his guilt to you and receive punishment for his crimes. He is to request the Watch be his sentence, I know you are the only man in the realm Robert will not countermand on this. Cersei will not be pleased; she is aware by now that I have taken Sandor from being Joffrey's shield and will try to get Robert to rescind the punishment. Knowing Robert, if I passed judgment, he'd overrule it just to spite me."
Eddard nodded, "How does this concern, my daughter?"
"I do not know how much of your visions reflected Sandor, at first, I wondered why the ravens were showing me so much of a man I have only viewed as a mildly easier-to-control dog compared to his brother. Sandor makes a most unconventional knight; he despises the entire institution due to the inclusion of his brother among the ranks of those claiming to be knights. Yet, without taking vows the man upholds the very precepts of what knighthood is meant to be."
"He rode down the baker's boy at the crossing," Ned commented.
Tywin nodded, "Indeed, but he was also under orders from my daughter and grandson, do you think either of them would have made the boy's end quick or clean? Joffrey is a beast; he gutted a pregnant cat for the simple fact he was curious. What do you think he'd have done to the boy if Sandor brought him back to the camp alive? What would the king's guard have done to a boy of no standing, compared to the tortures they visited upon your highborn daughter."
Tywin knew it was not hard to imagine what Trant or one of the others would do. Especially as Barristan or Jamie would be preoccupied with other charges. He waited as Eddard mulled over his words. The Lord of Winterfell finally looked to him, "What exactly are you proposing?"
"I have already sent a letter to Gregor's wife, informing her of the change in situations at Clegane Keep. She is to remain and maintain the keep in Sandor's stead. His appointment is perfunctory at best, I doubt the man would desire to remain there for any great length of time. I expect him to follow Gregor to ensure the man does as commanded and doesn't run from his fate. Sandor is gruff, but I am sure he will enjoy training her, especially if it is to spite your wife. The man does not take disrespect lightly, and we both know your wife is quick to judge people based on gossip or the whispered word of someone she trusts."
"I have already dispatched a letter to Syrio Forel, he is a friend of Lord Manderly and his sons, and as shown in my visions, is in search of a new patron. I have offered him a place here at Winterfell." Eddard frowned, "Arya will be as prepared as I can make her, but there is still the fact she could not reach her target."
It had been a disheartening sight; the girl was moments away from striking a deadly blow upon the fiend that commanded the Others. Had he been defeated the rest of his race would have fled, returned to the lands of always winter, perhaps never to be heard from again. She had let drop the Valarian steel dagger, prepared to catch it with her still free hand, but another hand caught her wrist. A cold and lifeless hand, one attached to the body that had once been known as Jon Snow, a young man she had once called brother.
"Have you spoken with the boy?" Tywin frowned, "it would be best he knows the truth before we enact our plan."
Ned nodded, "After the evening meal, I told him to meet me in the crypt. It is the one place in Winterfell besides the godswood I know we won't be overheard."
(Dorne – Some days earlier at Starfall)
Doran Martell entered the bed chamber of the Lord of Starfall. Lord Dayne was a younger man than Doran but had suffered greatly during the Rebellion. Not only had he lost a brother and a sister, but he had also been thrown from his horse at the Battle of the Trident and was subsequently trampled by the mount of a countryman. Lord Dayne survived but lost the use of one of his legs and his left arm had been amputated at the elbow. Doran never pitied his old friend; the man would have been insulted by such.
A wheeze came from the brittle form upon the bed, Lord Dayne looked far older than he should, "Lord Doran, it is good you have come so swiftly."
"Of course, my friend," Doran hobbled over to the bed, lowering himself to sit on the edge, "a prince must remember his friends. Especially those whose loyalty cost them so greatly." Doran frowned, "I have heard you requested Ned not to return until after you have passed. Do you not wish to see your son, one final time?"
Lord Dayne smiled sadly, "Not my son, not a Dayne other than my wife, and I claimed him as such, claimed him as ours."
A knowing nod came from Doran, "The tales of Ashara's child being stillborn, and a girl, lies. Why such subterfuge?"
"Pettiness, anger, revenge," Lord Dayne chuckled, but it swiftly turned to a dry cough, "He abandoned her, swore he loved her but married that fish to appease the Tully cunt. I forbade her from telling him when he came to return our brother's sword. To my shame that was too much to ask, to make her lie to his face as he held his nephew."
Doran had realized Lord Dayne was speaking of Eddard Stark, "What do you mean? Stark has no nephews."
"One, he claimed the boy as his bastard, not even knowing his actual bastard would be raised as my son." Lord Dayne sighed, "Aegon, lives, Jon Connington is raising him in Essos. The Storm Lord is too stuck in the past, full of too much hate, too much ego."
Doran frowned, "My nephew lives? How do you know this, and why haven't you told me before now?"
"Didn't know," Lord Dayne motioned to a bowl resting on the table next to his bed, "fever, Bloodraven, and a boy, showed me what horrors transpire after my death. You must prepare, the Long Night is upon you and yours. Even Dorne will not be safe from the cold and the dead. Standing alone will only mean Dorne shall die alone."
If it had been any other man, Doran would take this for the ramblings of the dying. He took Lord Dayne's hand in his own, "I am not of the First Men, my friend. Legends of the Long Night are but tales to frighten young children to me and mine, tales I never put much stock in when I was young. Please, my friend, tell me what we must do to save Dorne, to shield our people from such horrors as you have seen."
"Dorne cannot stand alone, the sands and mountains will not shelter you from that which lurks in the dark and cold. The dead are relentless, they will find you they will kill you, and their masters will raise you to serve them." Lord Dayne gave a forced cough, "Put aside pettiness, and self-interest, abandon pride. Let the ghosts of the past rest, the dead have no need for revenge, their one desire is for us to live."
Doran's jaw worked as he realized Lord Dayne was referring to his long-term goal to avenge his sister and her children. He noticed Lord Dayne's eyes fighting to remain open, "Rest my friend, we will speak more on the morrow."
"There will be time to rest enough when I go to join my brother and sister," Lord Dayne struggled to sit up, "The Others do not care about the blood in your veins, they want only for a world of death. You are the Prince of Dorne, you are the one who can unite the three heads. Brother must not battle brother, kin must not slay kin, Fire, and Ice." With those words, Lord Dayne slumped back on his bed, his head lolling to the side.
Hesitantly Doran placed two fingers to the pulse point on Lord Dayne's wrist. He felt the weak and thready thrum of a heartbeat. He sighed as he gently moved Lord Dayne so that he was laying more comfortably and in such a way that his airway would not be obstructed. Doran then stood up and looked down at the frail body upon the bed, "Regain your strength, my friend, the gods have not called you away quite yet."
As Doran departed the room, he found the Dayne's maester waiting patiently, "See to your lord, he exerted himself far too much." The maester bowed to the Prince of Dorne before bustling into the chamber. Doran then noticed Lord Dayne's last surviving sibling standing at the end of the hall. As he approached, she began to curtsy to him, and he paused her with a motion of his hand, "Allyria, there is no need for such formalities between friends."
Allyria grimaced, "A letter came for you from Highgarden, it bares the seal of Prince Oberyn."
"I have been expecting this." He held out his hand and the youngest Dayne sibling passed him the missive, "We should dine together this evening. I would like to hear all about this Storm Lord your brother arranged for you to marry."
A blush appeared on Allyria's cheeks, "Of course my prince."
He watched her walk down the hall before entering Lord Dayne's solar, not that the man had used the room in well over a year. Doran glared at the sword Dawn resting on a stand in the corner, his anger toward the last man who wielded that blade was unquenchable. He sat at the desk and grabbed a letter opener decorated with a falling star embossed on the handle.
The letter began with the normal mundane greetings along with the fact that Oberyn and his daughters had arrived safely and had been greeted warmly. For all the animosity between the two houses over the tourney accident that crippled Willas, the Martells and Tyrells got along surprisingly well. If not for the existing secret marriage pact with Viserys, he'd agree to a marriage between his daughter and Willas.
Doran frowned as he read Oberyn's recounting of a number of odd meetings he had been included in by Mace. The Lord of Highgarden had been meeting regularly with Paxter Redwyne and Randyll Tarly. As Lord Paxter was kin to Mace, that was not odd in itself. It was the inclusion of Lord Tarly, whose only useful skill was commanding and training soldiers. Oberyn reported that the Reach was preparing for winter, and not just any winter, but the Long Night.
A chill went through Doran as he read those words. The words of Lord Dayne echoed around his head, along with the mention of the three heads. Elia had oft mentioned the prophecy that haunted Rhaegar, the cause of his endless melancholy. Doran turned to a chest he'd had brought into the solar, he'd intended to use the room during his stay. Opening the chest, it took him only a moment to find a special seal. One that all maesters would recognize, the sigil of House Martell with the flourishes that meant only another Lord Paramounts may dare read the words.
Notes:
I thank everyone who commented on this story so for, especially those who pointed toward various characters or houses to include. Just a few notes.
1. So, to keep this from getting too convoluted, the youngest people getting these fever/warning dreams will be those who attended or were alive around the time of the tourney at Harrenhal. So anyone born during or after Robert's Rebellion only get knowledge if someone older tells them what is coming.
2. At this point there are more than a few groups of people who have been warned who will start to either prepare in their own ways, which will obviously start the groups realizing there are others who received warnings. Like the group in the Reach realized Tywin must have received a warning as him giving a stipend for volunteering for the Watch is not exactly in character for the man normally. They don't really focus on it to greatly because they have their own planning tasks to accomplish.
3. The Edric "Ned" Dayne comes from AN. Just kind of came to me, in cannon Edric's father is the only Dayne sibling not to be named, and his wife is never identified either. While we don't know anything about Edric's mother, we know his father is dead since Ned is the Lord of Starfall. There's also the fact he was blatantly told Wylla his wet-nurse was Jon Snow's mother, when House Dayne is probably the only people beside Howland Reed who know the truth. The simple fact they told a boy this fact, meant they expected him to spread this story about Jon's parentage.
4. Not story related, but just a quick venting. I am tired of people bashing Ned Stark for raising Jon Snow as his bastard. Please pick up a damn history book and look at the regularity that was used throughout history in practically every corner of the world to hide spare heirs, especially in cultures where rulers had multiple wives. It was actually one of the smartest moves Ned did throughout the series. Don't get me started on the issue of Ned sending Jon to the Wall, he did not intentionally send him there, Jon chose to go. Lord Commander Mormont also had instructions from Ned regarding Jon, and Jon didn't actually swear his vows until after Ned was arrested. This could be seen as Mormont doing the only thing in his power to protect Jon from the Lannisters.
