It had been some time and Serena had put together a rough plan for Ned's breakout. She spent much time near the dungeons to find a weakness in their routine. It appeared that the guards changed the shifts about minute giving her about a minute to pick the lock and get inside. Upon inspection of the castle grounds there was a back door she could sprint out with her father and get him to the gate where Torrhen would be waiting with the horses. It wasn't full proof but it had to work for the sake of the realm.

She made way to Cersei's chamber hoping to be allowed an audience with her father just to see him and see if he's ok. Hopefully the Queen would accept this proposal and allow a daughter to see her father as a last request of sorts. Anxiety filled her as she went to knock on the door remembering the events that took place just the other night. She pushed through it for her family and the realm and pressed her fist against it. A 'come in' was heard and Serena entered the room. The golden haired woman looked up from a letter she was reading with a look of sadness and anger painted on her face.

"If this is a bad time your Grace I could come back?"

"No no it's quite alright." Cersei replied holding back the urge to pound on her table.

A smile grew on her face at the sight of the girl who was now back in her typical apparel. A tunic,trousers, but no sword strapped to her waist. Not that she needed one anyway in the Red Keep. It was the safest place in the city. Cersei folded up the parchment and sat back in her seat. Serena saw the distress in her eyes and tried to act friendly. If she was to get to see father she would have to play nice.

"Is something wrong your grace?"

"You haven't heard?" Cersei asked.

"Heard what?"

"Robb Stark beat my brother at the Whispering Wood. Everyone's been talking about it."

It took everyone for Serena to not smile at the revelation. Robb had already won a victory and a big one at that. Jaime being in Stark hands should keep the Lannister's at heel especially Joffrey. If his uncle...father was captured he wouldn't dare lay a hand on Sansa or threaten her safety. If the war was on it was good to claim the first victory in the hopes of many to come.

"So it truly is war?" Serena asked.

"Yes it is...if this war comes to Kings Landing who will you fight for?" Cersei asked.

So the whole show in the throne room wasn't enough? Cersei watched from beside Joffrey as she laid her sword at his feet and she had doubts? Not that Serena truly meant it. Perhaps the Queen Regent saw through it?

"Your grace I will fight for the King as I swore before the court in the throne room."

Cersei smiled.

"So want do you need dear?"

"I was wondering if I could visit Lord Stark...convince him to confess his crimes and swear fealty to the King. There are very few people he listens to but he listens to me." Serena said.

Cersei sat back and contemplated this offer. To see Ned would show his treatment is fair and hopefully that word would reach the Stark forces and could bring about good treatment for Jaime. As well his confession would secure Joffrey's throne if the main claimant of this theory confessed it was a lie many may raise their swords for Joffrey instead. That and showing Serena some good faith could keep her on their side.

"Of course." Cersei said. "Anything we can try. That and show you he is being treated fairly."

Cersei ordered a guard to escort Serena to the dungeons and then back to her chambers. He took Serena down to the dungeons with a parchment from the Queen allowing Serena inside. One of the guards at the door took Serena inside and down the hall to where Ned was being held. With the clatter of keys and the click of the lock he opened the door allowing Serena inside alone with her father. The guard shut the door leaving them together.

Ned looked up seeing the torchlight from her hand reflecting from her face. He was happy to see the face of his daughter. He was surprised for sure to see her thinking she was still in a cell.

"Serena...they let you out?"

"They did. I had to meet some demands but I did it for Sansa."

Ned smiled knowing someone was looking out for Sansa. He truly did raise those twins right and for that he was happy.

"Torrhen?"

"He lives. He was on Dragonstone when everything happened. He's back in Kings Landing. He'll be waiting at the Mudd Gate at midnight. I'll sneak in at..."

"Serena." Ned stopped her. "Leave me. Don't risk yourself."

"I'm not going to let Joffrey execute you. Cersei wants me to convince you to confess and you will be given mercy but Joffrey will not show you any. I'm getting you out of here because it's right. I'll come at midnight when the guards change shifts and you will run out the back and out to the Mudd Gate."

Ned wanted to argue but he raised Serena and she was just like him..stubborn. There was no reason in it and she was right in a way. He was right about his claim and Joffrey didn't seem like the merciful type. Ned knew regardless of what he did his head what end up on a pike. For Ned however death did not scare him as it was coming for him one way or another.

"You mentioned Sansa what of Arya? Any word of her?"

"No...I've heard nothing. And there's Robb."

Ned looked up at the mention of his eldest true born son.

"What of him?"

Serena took a deep breath.

"Joffrey summoned him to Kings Landing and bend the knee. He's answering the summons with the entire northern army at his back."

The thought of that scared Ned. Robb was a boy at the head of an Army. Ned never wanted a war over him. The only thing the Warden of the North cared about what caring for the North and the Realm. Being a veteran of two wars that was enough for him. This country had seen enough war and if that Nights Watchman was telling true there would be much more war to come for the Seven Kingdoms.

"He's a boy...he should have stayed in Winterfell."

"He's a boy who just captured Jaime Lannister."

Ned's eyes lit up. Robb managed to defeat the Lannister's and captured Jaime with almost no military experience? There were many Lords in the North who were capable Generals who have been in war before to guide him. Robb was a smart boy no doubt and this just proves he definitely has some prowess. There was then a bang at the door.

"Hurry it up in there!"

Serena bent over hugging her father and reminded him 'remember...midnight' and knocked on on the door to signal she was done. The guard escorted her back out making sure she left the dungeons and brought her back to the Royal Quarter to Cersei as commanded. Once there he knocked on the door and a 'come in' came from the other side. Cersei looked up to see Serena being let in the room.

"So do you find Lord Stark's treatment up to par?"

"I do your grace." Serena replied knowing he'd be out soon.

"Good."

Cersei then filled up two cups of wine and handed one to Serena.

"I don't usually drink outside of feasts or special events."

"I command you to drink." Cersei said playfully.

With a smile Serena took a sip of her wine.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other night. I was a bit drunk and I realize I might have been a bit harsh in my advances."

Serena took a big sip of the alcoholic beverage at the mention of what happened the other night.

"I...it's alright your grace."

"No it's not. My behavior was abhorrent especially coming from a Queen. I was drunk and want to rectify this situation and make sure there is no awkwardness between the two of us."

"Its quite alright truly." Serena said hoping this conversation would just end.

Cersei then had some business to attend to and Serena was dismissed. She then went to go over the plan to save Ned. She went to check in and Sansa but she was out doing something.

Torrhen had managed to acquire the horses required to flee the capital. They were arranged just outside the city and would bring them to the Mudd Gate at midnight after receiving a letter that the plan was in action tonight and to be ready. He spent a good bit of the day at an inn and had just finished what would be the last good meal he'd have in a long time and washed it down with some ale. He then packed several water skins for the trip to prevent any stops and get as far away from the capital as possible. He went out to where the horses were kept and walked them over to the gate and waited. To pass the time he looked at the stars and drifted off to daydreams. Eventually he left to go to his position.

Back inside the Red Keep Serena had finished dinner with Sansa who was oddly silent. Usually there was something she wanted to talk about. Something that was going on but everything was getting to her. Her father in a cell,living as a prisoner in Kings Landing,her brother fighting a war. All this happening at the same time was taking its toll on the young girl. Sure it hurt Serena as well but she was able to manage it. All she wished was that she was fighting at Robb's side.

It felt like days had gone by before midnight came. Serena was laying in her bed staring at her ceiling for a time. Finally she went to the balcony of her chambers and saw the moon nearly at the center of the sky. It was time. She snuck out of the chamber sword strapped to her waist in the event she got caught and had to fight her way out. She quietly walked thought the keep avoiding the more patrolled corridors to lessen the risk of being captured. Finally she arrived at the entrance to the dungeon and the guards were still there just moments away from leaving.

She stood hiding in a corner waiting for the right time. Finally the men left leaving the door exposed. You'd think they have a better system for the protection of the Red Keep dungeons. Perhaps they didn't think they needed it inside the keep. She quickly moved to the door pulling out her lock picks and began picking the locks. Unlike her practice runs this one was giving some issues. Down the hall the clanking of armor could be hears getting closer to the door. 'Come on! Come on! Come on!' Finally the door unlocked with a click and she ran inside quietly closing the door.

Inside the dungeons Serena picked up a torch to see what was in front of her. She began to quickly walk through the dungeons to where her fathers cell was. Once in front of it she dropped to her knees and began to pick the lock. This one was quicker than the last one and unlocked almost instantly. Ned almost leapt at the sound of the door being pushed open. When his eyes adjusted to the torchlight he saw Serena's face.

"Come on." She said moving to help him up.

"You shouldn't be here...they'll kill you."

"If I get caught now let's go!"

Ned got up and with his daughters help they sprinted through the halls to a back exit. They ran up some stairs and out a door. Torrhen was already waiting outside.

"Torrhen." Ned said hugging him.

"Get him out of here." Serena said.

Torrhen hugged his sister but was pushed away.

"We have no time...go."

Torrhen grabbed Ned and off they went sprinting through the streets keeping their heads down to avoid detection. With the darkness of night no one who was still out noticed that Torrhen was sporting away the now former Hand of the King. Things were going good until they were nearly at the gate when two guardsman stopped them.

"Oi stop right there!"

The pair stopped and Torrhen gripped the hilt of his sword. The guards approached them.

"What do ye think you're doin?"

"Going for a walk on the beach." Torrhen replied.

The one guard looked at Ned with his head down to avoid detection.

"Hey look at me. Why won't you look at me?"

"He messed up his neck working. He can't lift it up."

The guards took a moment to think of the boys story. They then wanted to see the mans face.

"Look up at me."

"Come on guys do we have to do this."

"Shut up boy!"

Torrhen then jumped into action grabbing the one guard slamming his head into the nearby wall knocking him out. The other guard tried to pull his sword but was stopped by Torrhen and again his head was slammed into the wall knocking him out and the threat was put down. Torrhen then grabbed Ned and they ran away quickly to the horses. Once outside the Mudd Gate an jumped on the horses riding off before the men were noticed or Ned's cell was discovered empty. It was a long ride to the Riverlands where it was considered safe for the pair.