Eddard Stark had a sense of apprehension around him as he stood before King's Landing. It was not long ago he had been forming plans to attack the city. Now the rebel army was marching down the king's road, across the field from the army of the Reach. Neither side was making to attack, however. In fact, Eddard could see a delegation of Reachmen and Stormlanders riding out under the Baratheon and Tyrell banners.
"Looks like we might be smelling some roses soon."
Ned turned to face Robert, who stood at his side. Despite his attempts at humour, Ned saw his friend's shaking hands, his curled fists. The anger was clear on the Lord of Storm's End's face, and Ned was doubtful on whether or not the Tyrell delegation, messengers or not, would return to their camp unharmed.
He placed his hand on Robert's shoulder, trying to calm the man.
"Steady Robert. We already received word. They're fine."
No matter how true his words, Robert's fist didn't stop shaking. Looking up. Ned saw that there was less anger in his friend's gaze than before, but rather than calmness or anything he had been trying to instil, there was guilt.
"Ned, I just don't know. I don't know what I'll say. It was a year. I asked, I commanded Stannis to hold the castle for me, and he did. I've heard what he did, what he had to do. I asked him to do that Ned. I commanded my brother to starve himself for this war. And in the end, what were we really fighting for?"
Ned tried not to flinch. Robert had not taken Lyanna's return well. Of course, they all knew that Lyanna had gone willingly, but Robert it seemed had not fully come to terms with it, at least not until he had confronted Lyanna herself about it. Ned could still remember the screams from Lyanna's tent when Robert had gone to see her.
His sister had been grieving Rhaegar still. Heavily pregnant, Lyanna was due to give birth any day now, and the few Maesters from the Plataea who had arrived with her seemed too eager for it. Robert had gone to see her, with Ned by his side. Their entrance had evoked an immediate reaction from his sister. She had hissed and spat at them like an angry cat. Cradling her belly and trying to hide it from them, she had screamed and yelled of how they would not take her child.
'Visenya' He thought to the name, and to the prophecies that she had mentioned in her earliest letters to him before he had stopped reading them.
"Rhaegar's action started this, filling Lyanna's head with false promises and dreams." He tried to reassure his friend. "But Aerys murdered Brandon unjustly, then demanded our heads as well. This war was fought for the right reasons Robert. Even if something wrong set it in motion."
"I hope I can believe that." He said, looking out over the plain. "I've never been close to Stannis, and Renly is just a boy. Damn it all Ned, I'm closer to you than either of them."
"They're still your brothers Robert." Ned tried to reassure him.
"Aye." Robert nodded. "But I doubt I'll be getting on with either the way brothers should."
"Give it time."
No sooner did Ned finish trying to console his friend than the delegation from the Reach arrived. The first amongst the group was a man clad in the armour and colours of the Hightowers. Ned had never met him, but based on the quality of his armour, combined with his impressive looking horse, Ned could guess this was likely a son or cousin of the family.
"Greeting my lords." He said, pulling the reins and bringing his steed to a stop. "Well met. I hope that this day has found you well."
"Better once I see my brothers." Robert snarled, fist clenching.
The man seemed taken aback slightly by Robert's lack of decorum but recovered well by Ned's reckoning. A group of horses from within the group began moving and within moments, Stannis and Renly Baratheon, as well as a group of Stormland soldiers emerged.
"Brother." Stannis said, bowing his head slightly in deference to Robert. "It is good to see that you are well."
Robert froze up for a moment, seemingly uncertain, but he didn't stop for long. A wide, but not entirely solid grin appeared on his face as he appraised his brother. The fortnight long journey from Storm's End to King's Landing with the Reach army had done some good for his brother's form, but he was still more gaunt than Robert remembered him, and he didn't quite fill out his clothes in the same way he once had.
Renly on the other hand, looked much the same, it seemed that Stannis' stoic nature had not extended to the boy. Not to say that his youngest brother had been unchanged. Renly's eyes darted around with a fear and suspicion that a child such as he should not have, and he rode far closer to his guards than Robert expected.
"Stannis." He moved forwards, stopping only long enough for Stannis to dismount before he had his hands on his brother's shoulders and was looking him up and down.
"I held Storm's End, as you commanded." His brother said, voice all but devoid of emotion. "Our walls were never breached, and none entered into the castle until the news of the war's end came to us."
Robert wanted to shake Stannis. He was being far too calm, and Robert wondered what had happened in those walls to make his brother act like this. To be sure, Stannis had always been a stern and serious boy, but now he seemed devoid of anything human, seeming almost like a statue in the shape of a man. No matter the oddness of his demeanour, Robert was simply gladdened to see that his kin was well.
A hand on his own shoulder shook him from his reprieve, and he turned to see Ned stepping up beside him.
"I'm sure Robert is grateful for all you did in the siege." Ned said, nudging Robert with a raised eyebrow.
The lord of Storm's End suddenly realised that he had not said a word, a rare moment of speechlessness coming over him.
"Yes." He began abruptly. "Very proud."
He turned to regard Stannis, trying to show on his face some show of brotherly affection that he had little practice levelling at his actual brother rather than Ned.
"You brought honour to our house." He said, trying to find words that would convey his sentiments in a way Stannis might understand. "I'll have to find some way to reward you for this. You've gone beyond what I could have asked."
Stannis seemed, not stunned, but slightly taken aback by the level of enthusiasm Robert seemed to be showing towards him. When last he had seen his brother, Robert had been in the midst of preparing to leave for Summerhall with the forces he had called to their family's castle. His older brother had been curt, sparing only a few words for Stannis before leaving with the army and orders to hold their family home no matter what.
While the two brothers stood together, reuniting after a year of war, Ned turned to the Hightower party.
"Thank you, good ser." He said, not knowing who exactly it was that was leading the group. "I do not know if you must return to your own camp, otherwise I would offer you a food and a drink."
The man in armour smiled at the Northern lord, apparently recovered from Robert's less than distinguished greeting.
"Of course, Lord Stark. I'm afraid I must decline, I am awaited by my father back at Lord Tyrell's camp, but I'm sure we will be seeing each other soon, given the events that will soon take place."
As he spoke, he looked over Robert again, and Ned was not all that confident that they had made an ally to support their case here today. Still though, as far as Ned knew, there were no other options to choose from, and so the Reachman's personal opinion of Robert could be as bad as he wanted, so long as it didn't lead to outright conflict at the council.
Watching the group of Reachmen leave, a smaller party now that the Stormlander knights had stayed behind with his two brothers. Bringing Renly down from the saddle, Robert brought his brothers closer, embracing them in a rare show of brotherly affection.
"I'm glad you two are well, truly." He said.
Renly stared up at Robert, face breaking into a childish smile, though there was still a fragility there. Stannis meanwhile seemed to awkwardly stand there, apparently unsure of what to do in the face of such a display.
Robert couldn't blame him. He had not interacted with his brother so in a long time, even before the war. The deaths of their parents had driven Robert away into the arms of the Vale and the friends he'd made there. It had kept him distant from his family, and now, with all that had changed in the world since he had last seen them, it seemed wrong not to try and mend whatever rift there might be between them. After all, mere moons ago it would not have been unlikely for Robert to be sentenced to death by the sword, or if he was especially unlucky, by wildfire. All without ever speaking to his own blood again.
Together, the three Baratheon sibling made their way into the rebel camp, surrounded by allies and followed by Ned and the Stormlander knights who had escorted the two younger men through the semi-hostile lands held by the Reach's army.
Arthur watched as the traitors gathered outside the walls of the Red Keep, would that he could order the armies of the Targaryen loyalists to swarm and destroy them, but that power was not his to command. He was kingsguard, and his only duty now was to see to it that the right monarch sat the throne. Aerys and Rhaegar might be dead, but the rest of the royal family was not. Many believed otherwise. After all, what use could the royals be alive that they could not serve better dead, as examples of the power of the Lannisters and the Terras. Arthur could concede that point, but if they had wanted to simply kill the rest of House Targaryen and use them as messages, then why kidnap them from the Red Keep instead of simply killing them as they had the king and prince.
There was something else afoot there. Arthur was sure of it, and he swore to himself that if he could not see his friend sit the throne that he had so surely been meant to sit, then he could ensure that his friend's son could sit where the boys father never got to.
"They'll be coming soon." Ser Barristan said, looking out over the assembled camps of the lords of the Seven Kingdoms.
Each of them had brought their forces with them, the North, Stormlands, Vale and Riverlands camped out along the north wall, while the Reach's army was milling about south of the city, fortifying the rose road that was even now ferrying supplies from their farms.
"How long do you think it will be until the council convenes?" Asked Ser Jonothor Darry.
He, like the rest of them, stood vigil over the Red Keep. Without a king to guard, or ant member of the royal family, they had found themselves without true purpose. Instead, Lord Commander Hightower had set them to ensuring that the keep was as secure as could be, in order to prevent any such disgrace as the Terras had visited upon them only weeks ago.
"The Greyjoys might appear." Gerold Hightower said, standing firm. "Or they might not. Truly the council waits on the arrival of Dorne and the Westerlands before it can begin."
There was a shift in the esteemed order, one that Arthur felt pass through him just as much as any other. The Lannisters and their allies, for few things occurred amongst the nobility of the Westerlands without their approval, had been the cause for this very meeting. They had murdered and kidnapped the entirety of the Royal family, and Arthur was all but sure that the remaining members would be made an example of during this council.
"Well. It seems we can dismiss the need for Dorne." Ser Lewyn said, looking over at the southern horizon.
The other five knights turned, seeing as their sworn brother did, the banners of House Martell and countless other banners of Dornish houses, flapping in the wind.
"Now the only ones left are the lions." Arthur said, unable to keep the contempt from his voice.
"The lions, and their spartans." Barristan pointed out. Looking out towards the gold road as it wound into the distance.
"Aye." Ser Gerold nodded. "For now, we must ensure that the Red Keep is fit to receive so many and ensure that we lend our support to the right candidate."
"Aegon will be here." Arthur assured them. "Tywin wouldn't have let him live if he hadn't wanted to make an example."
Ser Oswell nodded in agreement with his knightly brother.
"Indeed. The old lion is too fond of making examples public. He'll bring them here, just to ensure that they 'support' him and his puppet usurper."
As they waited, Arthur felt his eyes drawn to the camp of the North. Over the last fortnight since the ravens had flown, letting all the realm know of the calling of a great council, there had been rumours aplenty regarding House Stark. Lord Rickard had been returned to his son's side not three days after the attack on the Red Keep, at least according to Varys' spies. Princess Lyanna had also been returned, according to the spider, and was due to give birth any day. The young princess, who should have been queen alongside Elia, was apparently surrounded by healers send by the Plataea. They had been ensuring Lyanna's health during this late stage of the princess' pregnancy.
Arthur's mind drifted to the babe in her belly. Given that she now resided with her own family, perhaps they could be persuaded to support Aegon's claim. He would after all, be the brother to Lyanna Stark's child, and if Rhaegar was truly right and she gave birth to a girl, would marry the boy alongside his other sister to become queen. Honourable the Starks might be, but the promise of a throne had tempted more honourable men to do worse things.
As he wondered, he and the rest of his brothers turned as they heard the sounds of footsteps approaching. Coming around a corner, a young page boy rushed up and stopped, panting slightly but holding a rolled-up scroll in one hand.
"My Lords." He said, bowing as he caught his breath. "I have… a message… for Ser Arthur."
"Take a breath boy." Ser Barristan said. "Give it here."
The boy handed the scroll over. Ser Barristan took it, immediately handing it over to Arthur, who immediately inspected the roll of parchment. He almost discarded it immediately when he saw the direwolf symbol that had been pressed into the wax, but stopped. Perhaps Lady Lyanna had given birth, or Lord Stark had some news on Ashara. No one had seen her in over a fortnight, since she and the royal family had been abducted by the Terras.
As he peeled off the wax and unfurled the scroll, he saw the name at the head of the parchment. It seemed that little Eddard Stark had written himself. That was something of a surprise. Since the return of his father, Dutiful Eddard had slipped right back into the role of second in command of the North's forces. Some even said that he had been happy to do so. Eddard was not trained to rule, not as his brother Brandon had. The sycophants lathered praise upon the quiet wolf, how the second son, silent and stoic, had risen up and bared his teeth in defence of his family. Others, most prominently those on the royalist side, whispered of Eddard's apparent natural predisposition towards command and rumoured of the quiet wolf's plans to overthrow his brother, which had become unnecessary with Brandon's death.
Arthur had disliked those men who spread such rumours. Rebel or not, Eddard Stark was a man of honour, Ashara herself had said as much when she had been in the city, and Arthur trusted his sister's word. Not only that, the man's actions in war, especially when the taking and treating of prisoners was concerned, was beyond reproach. Though Arthur was duty-bound side with the Targaryens, he knew that Eddard treated his vanquished foes with far more grace and honour than Aerys ever would.
A traitor the quiet wolf might be, but there was no doubt that Ned Stark was an honourable man.
At least, that was what he thought before. Whatever opinions of Eddard Stark Arthur had held once, even just moments ago, they faded away like the morning mist in the heat of summer, as he read the quiet wolf's letter.
Arthur's fingers gripped the letter tight, almost ripping it as his eyes scanned over its contents. Of course, part of it was a rather formal letter. It proclaimed the rights of the North in rebelling, the injustices of the Targaryens, thought it did express sympathy and condolences for the manner of the Targaryen deaths. Arguably the most important part was news of the birth of Lyanna's child, who Arthur understood logically could be another candidate for the throne over Robert Baratheon.
None of that mattered to him, however. Not the rebellion, not his failures. Not even the news that Rhaegar had another child, a child he might never get to meet. Instead, all Arthur cared about was the small portion of the letter, the true reason that Eddard Stark had chosen to write to him specifically, instead of the sending his proclamation to the entirety of the Red Keep,
'Ashara's child…a Stark.' The thought swirled inside his mind, washing away everything else, and leaving only that single notion. Like a maelstrom in his mind, it consumed all others, and the first thing that truly crossed Ser Arthur Dayne's mind after the revelation was the desire to castrate Ned Stark for daring to touch his sister.
Immediately after, his thoughts turned to Ashara. She had been heavily pregnant when she had arrived in King's Landing, and no one had known the father of her child. Perhaps Varys, but the spider had made no mention of it in the small council or war meetings, and if he had. Arthur shuddered to think what Aerys might have done to his sister had he known she was carrying the child of a rebel, much less a Stark of Winterfell.
Could he begrudge her then, the betrayal of keeping her child's father's identity a secret from him, her own brother. Either way, the sword of the morning would not get the chance to speak with his sister for some time yet, perhaps if she and her son came to the council, but considering how old her child must be, he doubted any sane maester would allow her to travel across the realm with a babe only a fortnight old.
The letter was gently taken out his hands by Ser Barristan, after his kingsguard brothers had been unable to rouse him from his stupor. The bold knight read out most of the note himself, though not in much detail. The last section of the note was almost entirely dedicated to information on his new nephew; Edwyle, as provided by Lord Rickard, and so truthfully his fellow kingsguard had no true reason to read it. Still, Lewyn ushered him into the white sword tower, and before long he and his fellow knights were drinking. Some of it was celebratory, as he had been given congratulations on becoming an uncle, even if the boy was a rebel and born a bastard, but most of it was simply to help Arthur calm down, and in that endeavour, it did succeed.
By the end of the night, Arthur no longer wanted to hack off Ned Stark's cock with Dawn, in fact, by the end of the night, all he wanted to do was lie on his bed, and hopefully not have to spend the whole of the next morning vomiting from how much he'd drunk tonight.
If anything is going to prompt self-reflection, it's the challenging of your whole world view by the woman you love, and the near death of your family. In the books and the show, we see just how strained the relationship between Robert and his brothers is, and in this story I won't say Robert is necessarily better, just that the world has forced some introspection that he would not have had otherwise. Lyanna's choices might not have been the best, but it's not without merit to say that there were large turn-offs to marrying Robert. In this timeline, Robert doesn't have the excuse of Lyanna's delusion, or her larger-than-life ghost, to use to shield himself from growth. Instead, he now has to work on those aspects that he might blame himself for, since if he hadn't had them, Lyanna might not have run away.
Either way. Arthur's reaction to Ashara's baby daddy being Ned is fun, and I can't wait to have them meet, if they do at all. A little more and we get to the great council.
Also, the reviews are in, and Magic is Magic is the clear winner. So that's what we'll be doing. Hope you guys enjoy.