Chapter 2

The Cross Road Inn, the Kingsroad—the Riverlands

298 A.C.

What should have been a short fourteen-day or less ride from King's Landing to the Crossroad Inn had taken an extra seven days. All thanks to Cersei; demanding they take a fucking wheelhouse.

She bitched and whined to Robert till he gave in and allowed the wheelhouse, plus another half a dozen wagons for baggage. Jaime signed in annoyance at his sister as he and Ser Barristan rode together.

Five members of the Kingsguard were making the trip north with the King: Jaime himself, Ser Barristan, Ser Boros Blount, Ser Ser Meryn Trant, and Jaime's idiotic cousin himself, Lancle—the father of Jaime's bastard nephews Joffrey and Tommen, and his niece Myrcella.

Ser Arys Oakheart, Ser Mandon Moore, and Ser Preston Greenfield remained behind in King's Landing.

Jaime's stallion snorted and tossed his head about as they rode closer to the Cross Road Inn.

"Beloved brother, what a glorious day for a ride. I see our beloved sister, the Queen, has spared no expense to bring everything bar the Royal Chamber Pot on our journey north." Tyrion drew rein beside Jaime and Ser Barristan.

Jaime hid a smirk at Tyrion's remark about Cersei's excessive baggage. Even the Lord Commander of the King's Guard chuckled a little to himself at Tyrion's comments.

"It seems Addam has beaten us here." Tyrion nodded to the House Lannister soldiers and banners fluttering in the breeze.

"We would have been here a week before if we didn't have half a dozen wagons we don't need or the wheelhouse," Jaime muttered as he slowed his horse and dismounted.

Ser Barristan dismounted his horse. If his fat-ass whoremongering good brother got any fatter, he wouldn't get on his horse. Jaime thought darkly to himself.

"Barristan, Kingslayer, make sure we have the best rooms." Robert threw a bag of coins to them.

"Yes, your Grace." Barristan caught the coin purse and made their way to the inn.

"Go find your son and spend some time with him. I'll sort out the rooms." Jaime gave a grateful nod to Ser Barristan, leaving the inn searching for his family.

"You there, what's your name?" Jaime stopped one of the Lannister soldiers.

"Aran Branch, my Lord."

"Aran, where is Ser Addam Lannister?" Jaime questioned.

"Back at the main camp, Ser Jaime, I can escort you to the camp." Aran offered.

Jaime followed the soldier back to the Lannister camp. It wasn't hard to spot his eldest son. Gods, he'd grown in the last six moons since he and Addam had last met.

Jaime was taken aback when he saw his wife for the first time in seven years. Gods, she was beautiful. Ashara hadn't spotted him yet. His daughters Allyria and Joanne were as beautiful as their mother.

Arthur had been all but two name days old the last time Jaime had seen him. He was going to be tall like his brother. Damon, Jaime had never met his youngest son before now.

"Father" Allyria had spotted him first. Addam turned at Allyria, calling out his name. Addam was taller than Jaime by two inches, standing 6'5 and built like a battering ram.

"Ser Jaime, Lady Allyria," Aran took his leave, leaving father and daughter alone.

"I've missed you, father."

"I've missed you as well, Allie," Jaime returned his daughter's hug. Jaime mentally cursed the gods for keeping him apart from his family. All of his children would grow up without their father there.

"Jaime" Ashara looked even more beautiful now than she did the last time they had seen one another seven years earlier.

"Ash" Jaime held his wife as close as he could wearing that fucking incomberat Kingsguard armor.

Husband and wife kissed deeply, not caring for who saw. The law may say they were not married, as Jaime was a part of the Kingsguard. But in their hearts, they were married; none of their children were bastards. But some would say technically they were bastards.

"Arthur, Damon, come meet your father."

"Father" Damon timedly made his way to Jaime. Who stood with his arms open to his youngest son?

"Are you our father?" Arthur asked; he'd been two name days when he had last seen Jaime.

"Yes, Arthur, I am your father," Jaime answered his second son.

"Father, how was the road."Addam came forth with a vaguely familiar blade in his hand. It was not Dawn. But another blade thought long thought lost during Tommen II's ill-fated voyage to Valyria after the Doom.

"Brightroar, where did you find it?" Jaime questioned.

"Turns it was hidden deep in Casterly Rock all along with Tommen the II's armor," Addam answered.

Jaime stayed for an hour with his family before returning to the inn. Tyrion was seated at a table eating stew and drinking ale or wine when Jaime came in.

"How is my beloved nephew?"

"Addam is well, as are Arthur, Damon, Allyria, Joanne, and Ashara," Jaime answered.

"This shall be an interesting trip north with your beloved sister and your family," Tyrion remarked, remembering the last time Ashara and Cersei had been in the same room together, it had not been pretty.

"Jaime, take the afternoon off; you are not on duty till tomorrow morning. Spend it with your family." Ser Barristan joined the Lannister brothers at the table.

"Who's guarding the King and the Royal Family?" Jaime questioned.

"Ser Meryn is guarding the King, Ser Lancel is guarding the Queen, Ser Boros Blount, and Sandor Clegane is guarding the Princes and Princess," Barristan answered.

Meryn could have guarding the whore mongering king all to himself. Jaime's mood brightened a little when Addam, Arthur, and his two cousins Willem and Martyn walked into the Inn.

"Beloved Nephew."

"Uncle, have you gotten taller or have you done something different with your hair?" Addam remarked, taking a seat.

"Martyn, Willem, have six bowls of stew and bread brought to the table, along with six mugs of ale," Addam ordered his squires as he took a seat at the table.

"Yes, my lord." Willem and Martyn left.

"A keen sense of humor you have, nephew. How is my beloved Father?"

"Grandfather is in fine health and is well," Addam answered

Martyn and Willem returned with trays of food and Ale.

"Why are you two not on duty to protect your king?" The Wicked Witch of King's Landing came flapping out of her bell tower. Addam thought to himself as his aunt and idiotic cousin appeared.

"Ser Meryn is guarding the King. I will relieve him in an hour or two, my queen," Ser Barristan answered diplomatically as ever.

"And what of my brother?"

"Ser Jaime has my leave to be off duty till tomorrow morning." Ser Barristan remarked.

"Huh," Cersei said dismissively. "What are you doing here?" she sneered, eyeing Addam seated beside Jaime.

"I was sent on behalf of my grandfather and House Lannister," Addam answered, not bothering to add Your Grace at the end.

"I am your queen. You will address me as My Queen or your Grace; you understand me, Bastard."

"Bastard, that's cute. Your Grace, seeing as I am heir to Casterly Rock." Addam remarked not backing down. None of Jaime and Ashara's children were bastards. Cersei was only trying to get a rise out of Addam.

"You dare to speak to your Queen. I will have your tongue for this.

"Try it, and perhaps I will tell the King something that would have far more reaching consequences for you and your cousin, Ser Lancel Lannister," Addam rebuffed her.

Jaime watched as his son called Cersei's bluff. Addam telling Robert the truth of who really was the father of his three children would end up in a war between House Lannister and Baratheon. Not to mention Cersei, Lancel, and their bastard children's heads would be on a spike by sunset that day.

Cersei scowled and glared at Addam. "You don't deserve that armor nor the Lannister name." Cersei left in a huff, and Lancle trotted behind her like every faithful puppy he was.

"Son a word of advice. It would be wise to make an enemy of your aunt," Jaime advised.

"She would be wise to do the same with me, Father. Lions eat stags for breakfast." Addam took a long sip of ale. Jaime only hoped Addam knew what he was doing. Cersei had a vindictive strike a mile long and held a grudge look no other person Jaime knew of.

Winterfell, the North

298 AC.

Winterfell was a flurry of activity for King Robert and his royal entourage's forthcoming visit. They had been busy making preparations for weeks now. They were putting the final touches in place.

The King was due to arrive the next day or so. Lady Stark and Maester oversaw the final preparations for the King's visit.

"We'll need plenty of candles for Lord Tyrion's chamber. Have the additional rooms been made up for Lord Addam Lannister and his party?" Catelyn questioned Maester Luwin.

"Poole has the rooms made up, my lady. I've had two and a half dozen barrels of ale and wine brought up. We'll see if Lord Tyrion lives up to his reputation of drinking any man under the table."

"How much can a man of his stature possibly drink?" Catelyn wondered aloud.

"I don't rightly know, my lady; perhaps we will find out," Luwin answered.

"See that there are extra candles placed in Lord Tyrion's rooms."

Bran had been up on the battlements watching the Kingsroad for the past few hours. Watching and waiting for any sign of the Royal Procession that was due sometime today.

He finally spotted. The banners of House Lannister and Baratheon fluttered in the breeze as they got closer to Winterfell. Brandon went back the way he came.

He only hoped to get down before his mother spotted him. He'd been warned about climbing the Walls not a week before.

He was nearly at the bottom when "BRANDON STARK. GODS GIVE ME STRENGTH. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOUR FATHER AND I SAID NO CLIMBING"

He'd been sprung.

"I saw the King. He must have hundreds of people with him; they're coming down our road."

"How many times have we talked about this, Brandon?" Catelyn answered.

"But he's coming down our road."

"Brandon I want you to promise me. No more climbing. Your father and I don't want anything to happen to you. So promise me now no more climbing."Catelyn asked.

"I promise no more climbing." Bran looked at his feet.

"You know what?"

"What?" Bran questioned.

"You always look at your feet when you lie." Catelyn paused before continuing, "Go and find your father and tell him. The King's Party is close."

Bran ran off to find his father to inform him that King was close.

"Bran, where's the fire."Ned caught his son before he ran into Jory Cassell.

"Mother said to tell you that the King is close," Bran said slightly out of breath.

"Go tell your brothers and cousin that the King is near." Ned ruffled his second youngest son's hair.

Arya made her way through the crowd, trying to find the perfect spot to watch the royal party ride in. She had her father's helmet on her head. She perched herself on a wagon, watching as Baratheon and Lannister Soldiers rode into Winterfell.

She was amazed by them, their horses, and their shining armor. She made out the distinctive armor of Ser Sandor Clegane, mostly known as the Hound. Another knight, possibly from House Lannister, caught Arya's attention.

The horse he rode was as black as a night. The armor was the most beautiful set of armor Arya had seen. Gold and a dull sliver. He wore a Great Sword strapped to his back. A lion-like helm on his head. Another sword was strapped to the saddle of his stallion.

Draped in a surcoat of House Lannister colors.

As the Crown Prince rode past, Arya didn't know what all the fuss was about. He wasn't that good-looking.

Catelyn looked around for her daughter. Arya, where had she disappeared?

"Sansa, Robb, have you seen your sister?" Catelyn asked her oldest son and daughter

"I haven't seen her mother."

Sansa merely shrugged her shoulders.

Not a minute later, Arya came sprinting over to them with a Stark soldier helmet on. "Hey, hey. What are you doing with that?" Ned asked, smiling as he removed the helmet. Nodding for her to stand between Sansa and Bran.

"Move." Arya shoved her brother aside as she took her spot in the line. The Royal Party continued to file into Winterfell.

Robb was less than impressed when he noticed the way Prince Joffrey was looking at Sansa. Ned was taken aback seeing Ashara Dayne-Lannister after so many years.

He'd been a little in love with her during the tournament at Harrnehal. They shared a few dances, nothing more. Even more surprising was the fact that she was riding a horse and not traveling in a wheelhouse like where her daughters and sons were.

The knight wore a golden lion helm. Removed his helm. Shaking his shoulder-length blonde hair. Ned had never met the eldest son of Jaime Lannister and Ashara Dayne before now. Ser Addam Lannister

He was the spitting image of the Kingslayer save for his mother's nose and surprisingly mismatched eyes; one was purple and the other green. Torrhen watched from the back, standing beside Theon.

A wheelhouse slowly rolled in; behind the wheelhouse was the king himself and several kingsguards. Torrhen's attention was caught by one of the young ladies about his age sitting beside the great hulk of Lannister Knight. She had blonde hair, and her eyes were purple, like those of her lady mother.

They all knelt as Robert dismounted his horse. He had certainly packed on the weight in the last eight or so years, as it had been since he'd been last in the North.

Robert marched over to where Ned knelt. Gesturing for them all to get to their feet, "Your Grace," Ned bowed his head.

"You got fat." Ned shoots him a look to say, Look, who's talking?

Robert cracked first, laughing, before embracing Ned.

"Cat, you are looking as lovely as ever." It was an awkward exchange between the pair, and he ruffled Rickard's hair.

"You must be Robb." The Fat Stag King made his way down the line of the Stark Children. "My, my, you are the vision of your lady mother."

"You are the spitting image of your aunt. What's your name?"

"Arya," Ayra answered before Robert turned his attention to Bran.

"Show us your muscles. You'll be a knight."

"That's Jaime Lannister, the Queen's twin brother," Arya uttered.

The Queen was a beautiful woman; there was no denying that. Bran recognized one of the other Kingsguards. Ser Barristan Semly, also known as the Bold.

"My Queen." Ned bowed, kissing Cersei Lannister's hand.

"My Queen," Catelyn bowed her head.

"Ned take me to your crypts. I want to pay my respects."

"We've been riding for a month, my love. Surely the dead can wait a few more hours or until tomorrow," Baratheon ignored his wife. "Ned come"

Torrhen felt a little sorry for the Lannister Queen. No one deserved to be treated like that. "Where's the Imp?"

Torrhen noticed the Queen bristled at the mention of her youngest brother, Tyrion Lannister, sometimes called the Imp.

"Where is our brother? Go find the foul little beast." She hissed at her twin brother, Jaime Lannister. Jaime sighed and did as his queen bid. He had hoped to have some time with Ashara.

"Tell me about Jon Arryn," Ned asked as they walked towards Lyanna's tomb.

"One day he was fine; the next he was ill. Whatever it was, it burned through him within a week. I loved that man."

"We both did." Jon Arryn had been like a second father to Ned.

"He never had to teach you much, but me. You remember me at sixteen. All I wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls. He showed me what was what."

"Both of us he did," Ned agreed.

"It wasn't his fault; I never listened." They stopped in the walkway of the crypts. "I need you, Ned, down in King's Landing, not up here, where you're no fucking use to anyone."

Ned didn't know what to say.

"Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you Hand of the King."

"I am not worthy of such an honor," Ned said.

"I am not trying to honor you. I want you to run my kingdom while I eat, drink, and whore myself to an early grave." Robert paused for a moment. "Come, Ned Dammit, stand up."

"You helped me win the Iron Throne; now help keep the fucking thing. We were meant to rule together. If Lyanna had lived, we would have been bound by blood. It's not too late. To join our houses. You have a son, and I have a daughter." Ned stood silently as they stood in front of Lyanna's statue.

"Did you have to bury her in a place like this? She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and the clouds above her."

"She is a Stark; this is where she belongs," Ned answered.

"She belonged with me. In my dreams, I kill him every night."

"It's done, your grace; the Targaryens are gone," Ned answered carefully.

"Not all of them," Robert spat.

Addam, with Arthur, Willem, and Martyn's help, took off his armor. His rooms were not as lavish as his rooms at Casterly Rock. Not that Addam was one for material possession.

They had all been placed together on the same wing of the guest wing. "See my armor and Brightroar are cleaned and polished," Addam ordered as he changed into warmer clothes before strapping Dawn into place.

"Yes, Ser Addam."

Addam left his rooms. Arthur and his rooms were next door to each other; Willem and Martyn were across the hall from him and Arthur. His lady mother's room was beside Arthur's. Allyria and Joanne were across the hall next to each other. Damon's room was next to their mother's.

Addam made his way through the maze that was Winterfell Castle. Addam found his way out to the courtyard once more. He headed for the stables to check on his horse. Zōbrie. His stallion could be a handful when attended to by people he didn't know.

"My Lord" One of the stableboys nodded him before scurrying off. Attending to his duties.

Addam brushed down his ill-tempered Stallion. He gave Zobrie a sugar cube as he left the stables. Some Northern Lords had arrived; there was to be a feast tonight.

"Did you find Uncle Tyrion then?" Addam questioned his father.

"At his second home."

"Ah, the Whore House." Addam chuckled. His uncle had two great loves: wine and women.

Father and son parted ways. The feast that night was small compared to the much larger feast that would take place later in the week with all the Northern Lords in attendance.

Lord Stark's second son asked him endless questions about being a squire and a knight. Addam answered as best he could. The boy dreamed of being a knight and perhaps joining the Kingsguard when he was old enough.

Lord Stark's youngest daughter asked him endless questions about Dawn and many other things Addam couldn't recall.

All through the evening, he noticed Lord Stark's eldest daughter Sansa was eyeing him every now and again. But mostly her eyes were drawn to Addam's bastard cousin. Joffrey. Who was staring back at her with his weasel-like eyes?