Uploaded: 28th January A.D. 2025
4:03 AM AEST – Australian Eastern Standard Time GMT10
A Naruto and Game of Thrones Crossover
Disclaimer: "Naruto" is a property of Masashi Kishimoto, Shueisha, and Studio Pierrot; and "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon" TV Series are the property of HBO and "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series is a property of George R.R. Martin who should finish The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, historical events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Reader discretion is advised.
A/N: Please join Aizen the Goat's Discord Server; it's a great place: kyTaRuVpBW
Genres: Action, Adventure, Romance, Fantasy
Warnings: Violence, Very Strong Language, Sexual Content
Universe: Animeverse/TV Series/Bookverse
Series: The Chronicles of the Maelstrom
"Jutsus/Time change/Place change"
"Otherworldly Beings Talking"
"Otherworldly Beings Speaking"
'Flashback'
"Normal Speaking"
"Normal Thinking/Telepathy speaking."
"What are you doing now?"
"Sleeping."
- A man and an exasperated woman
Act 1 - Winter is Coming
Chapter 5: Clouds Burst
Story Start.
The world has changed that much, I'm sure. The presence of the Holy Father in this world has changed things… he's somewhere, out there, helping in small, quiet places where most wouldn't look. Now, the presence of the Legions sent by the Ruby Emperor will send waves across the Seven Kingdoms, but no matter, they're under my command now, and until then, we will have a war to fight soon. The Riverlands is under attack now; Tywin has commenced his assault, which is why Tyrion will return to King's Landing with Catelyn and me. It seems I will finally go to war myself after a long time.
-End of Entry, The Vale of Arryn, 298 AC
Visenya of House Uzumaki, formerly Targaryen, tended the campfire before her; night had fallen in the Vale, and most of their little merry band were asleep in the little cave Naruto made in the craggy lands some miles outside of the Bloody Gate. Her armour unfastened, leaving only her mail shirt that was not certainly made anywhere from the Seven Kingdoms and even loosened from its belts.
Memories resurfaced in her silence, memories that invoked joy, among other emotions. But regardless, she turned towards her husband, who stood at watch beneath the moon's light.
"Tell me about this… Dance of the Dragons," she said, which took Naruto by surprise as he immediately turned around and faced her.
Rhaenys slept quietly by one side and heard nothing, the same for Tyrion and their other companions on the road, Catelyn, Rodrick, and Bronn, so Naruto sat down beside Visenya and leaned his back on a boulder.
"Ah, it's a long story, could have been prevented, should have been prevented…" he muttered, letting out a tired sigh, and Visenya noted his supposed exhaustion. Thus, she placed a hand above his.
"But I was lax, too lax, and I couldn't care less at the time, but that visit from the Holy Father cemented the fact that I have blundered, and I have to amend that if I want to retain my position, or so how the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea has put it." Visenya's eyebrows rose when a certain Emperor was mentioned; of course, she knew who that was—the highest and most powerful man who wore the same face as the Guardian.
But she sent further thoughts away from her mind and remained silent for the due course, so her husband continued.
"Now, yes, the Dance of the Dragons… the embers began with a good father and a bad king… yes, Viserys, first of his name, was a good father; he loved his children above all else and was blinded by the machinations behind him… proving his grandsire that only the House of the Dragon can bring down itself…"
He recounted the bloody civil war between one family that nearly threatened to end the Seven Kingdoms. Visenya listened intently, taking all the facts and absorbing everything she could; despite not being from her blood, those who fought and died were still family.
The night went on, and Visenya only had one question at the end.
"Suppose you could go back in time; would you change anything?"
"How far back?" he fired back with a grin, and she just shook her head.
"You know what I mean," she said, and he sighed.
"I know, but if you want to hear it, the answer is no, I wouldn't change a thing," he finally answered, but he continued. "Living in continuous regret about the past is not a way to live. Besides, the Eternal Emperor would have my head if I did that."
Naruto groaned again, every muscle in his body tensing as Visenya leaned in, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "She's not going to let this go, you know."
"Well, if you're going to start something, better be prepared to finish it," Rhaenys purred from the shadows, stepping closer by the moment, her silhouette framed by the moonlight. Their companions remained asleep as her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she had undone her armour, which revealed the curves that had always drawn the eyes of men.
Visenya grinned as she shifted her hips, her hands resting on his chest. "She's right, you know. If you start something, you better be ready to end it," she whispered.
"Huh? You started this." Incredulous was Naruto at that moment, but Visenya's grin only widened as Rhaenys knelt beside them, her hand brushing against Visenya's thigh, a silent promise of things to come.
Naruto groaned, feeling the heat of their combined desires as they closed in on him, their bodies pressing against his, their hands exploring, teasing him to no end, but he knew them better than they did. He reached out, pulling Rhaenys closer with one hand while the other slid up Visenya's back, feeling the tension in her muscles as she arched into his flaming touch.
Rhaenys' lips trail down his jawline, her breath hot against his skin as she moved lower, her hands working to unfasten the belts and straps still clinging to his armour. Meanwhile, Visenya's fingers tangled in his hair, her mouth finding his own in a soft but no less intense kiss filled with an ancient longing.
His breath hitched with that kiss, tender and fierce it was. Meanwhile, His hands traced the contours of her form, every curve and edge already memorised. And she responded to his touch just as well as she did - her breath catching, the shiver in her spine - only fuelled the fire inside him.
The younger sister, never the one to be outdone, moved with grace as she freed Naruto from the last remnants of his armour, her fingers deftly unbuckling everything with ease that only came from practice. Her lips followed the path of her hands, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake as she worked her way down his body. The fabric of his tunic was no barrier to her touch, and he felt every brush of her fingertips.
"Oh Lord," Naruto groaned, while Visenya nipped at his lower lip, teasing him, while Rhaenys' mouth continued its descent, her breath hot against the skin of his toned abdomen.
Visenya drew his attention back to her as she leaned closer and whispered, "Relax, my love. Let us take care of you tonight and all the nights ahead."
Rhaenys' mouth wrapped around him with a skill and fervour she gained from years past with him. Visenya's hands moved to cradle his face, her lips brushing against his temple, jaw, and neck as if she couldn't get enough of him.
Naruto fought not to lose himself in the sensations that tried to overwhelm him.
His lips met Visenya's, and her kiss was more demanding this time, her teeth grazing his lower lip as she pressed herself against him, her breasts soft and warm through the fabric of her mail shirt. Naruto's hands move to her waist, sliding under the hem of her shirt, pulling her closer still.
She pressed harder against him, her hips grinding into his with a desperate need as their kiss deepened.
Rhaenys tightened her grip on him, her pace quickening as she took him deeper, her moans vibrating against him. Naruto's free hand tangled in her silver hair, tugging slightly, eliciting another muffled moan of pleasure from her. She took that as a sign to push him further to the edge, her mouth and hands working in tandem to bring a release that did not come.
The older sister's hands slid lower, tugging at the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head and tossing it aside. Her breasts pressed against his chest, the sensation electric against his heated skin. Naruto took in the sight of her, and his hands moved to cup her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her hardened nipples, drawing a sharp gasp from her lips.
"Lovely as ever, Visenya," he muttered, his voice thick with desire.
"Naruto," she breathed, her hands moving around him with urgency. "I want you."
Rhaenys pulled back just enough to look up at him; her lips glistened as she smirked. Her eyes gleamed with the same hunger that blazed in Visenya's. "We both want you," she whispered, her hands still stroking him.
He just groaned, torn between the two sisters who were both driving him to the point of no return.
Visenya wasted no time now; she straddled him, guiding him to her entrance. She was dripping; her arousal was evident as she slowly sank onto him, her head falling back with a loud moan that she suppressed as he filled her completely.
Naruto's hands gripped her hips tightly, holding her in place as she began to move. Her pace was slow at first, but she quickly gained speed as the pleasure built within her.
Rhaenys watched as her own desire burned bright, her hands slipping between her legs as she watched her elder sister ride him, and the sight alone was almost enough to push her over the edge. But she wasn't done with him.
She leaned in, and her tongue trailed up the side of his neck, tasting the salt of his sweat as she pressed herself against his side. Her free hand moved to cup his balls, massaging them gently as Visenya's movements became more frantic, her moans growing louder with every thrust, and it was a miracle that no one woke up. The sleep they had was profound indeed.
Deeper still, however, Visenya took him. She tightened around him even further as her release approached, and it took every ounce of willpower not to come undone right then and there.
"Visenya, Rhaenys," he groaned, his voice coarse with need.
Visenya's nails dug into his shoulders as she came, her body shuddering with the force of her release. She cried out his name, her voice echoing through the cave as she rode out the waves of pleasure crashing through her, and still, a miracle that no one else woke up.
Rhaenys' hand on his balls remained, while her mouth found his in a searing kiss as Visenya collapsed against his chest, spent but satisfied. Naruto kissed Rhaenys with equal fervour, his hand tangling in her hair once more as he pulled her closer, his other hand still gripping Visenya's shivering body.
"Your turn," he whispered against Rhaenys' lips; his voice was low and dangerous.
She smiled against his mouth. "My pleasure," she purred, shifting to straddle him as well, her hand guiding him to her entrance as she sank down onto him, taking him deep quickly inside her.
The sensation of Rhaenys so soon after Visenya was almost too much to bear at that moment. But he was not ever going to let her have all the control as he gripped her hips, holding her steady as he began to thrust up into her, each movement hard and fast, driven by the overwhelming need to claim her as he had claimed her sister.
She moaned, her hands braced against his chest as she met his thrusts, her pace matching his. The sounds of their bodies coming together echoed through the cave, mixing with the sound of their ragged breaths. She accidentally slipped out of his length, and in a frenzied search to put him back in her, she had brought him to her exit.
A guttural moan came from her throat, mixed with pain and pleasure, as she was not ready for that. But Naruto did not care and resumed thrusting hard and fast, rendering Rhaenys a broken mess. He went further and pushed his fingers inside her entrance.
Visenya watched through half-lidded eyes, her body still thrumming with the aftershocks of her release. She smiled with satisfaction as she watched her little sister find her release, and it wouldn't be for long now, as Naruto returned his length to her entrance, leaving her exit gaping with fluids that flowed down from her entrance.
Naruto's relentless pace was matched only by the burning desire on Rhaenys' face as his body quivered at the onslaught of pleasure that he brought to her. She gripped his shoulders as she rode the wave of ecstasy that was building inside her, each thrust driving her closer than ever to the precipice.
"Fuck," she gasped; her voice was hoarse with the intensity of the whole situation, her eyes rolling back as she felt herself slipping further into darkness.
Visenya leaned forward, still reeling from her release, and her lips brushed Rhaenys' ear. "Don't hold back."
"Let him take you over that edge," she whispered; her voice was a sultry murmur that made her shiver. "Let him have all of you."
Now, Rhaenys needed no further encouragement because soon after, her body convulsed as she gave in. Her release crashed through her like a tidal wave, and she allowed herself to be consumed by it. She repressed her voice by sheer will, though it still echoed in the cave walls, and Visenya thought that it would wake up the others had she allowed it to be raw and unrestrained.
The sight of Rhaenys falling apart and trembling in his arms was more than enough for Naruto to follow with his own release. His movements became more erratic and desperate as he chased that release, and his muscles tightened in anticipation.
And then, there it was, with that final, powerful thrust, he let go. Rhaenys felt that violent explosion within her; that white-hot fire seared within her walls as Naruto buried himself deep inside, and his seed spilled into her.
For a moment, there was only the ragged breathing of the three of them; each tried to catch their breath and come down from that height of pleasure that they had just scaled. Visenya, leaning against Naruto's side, smiled contently, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest.
Rhaenys' body was still trembling from the aftershock of her release, and she slowly lifted herself off him, but her movements were sluggish and unsteady; thus, she collapsed beside them. She rested her head on Naruto's other shoulder and exhaustedly closed her eyes.
Naruto was satisfied; however, sandwiched between the two sisters, he let out a deep, satisfied sigh. His arms now wrapped around them, pulling them close. The night was now still, the campfire cracked softly in the background, and the air was thick with the scent of sex and satisfaction—something the others would probably notice in the morning.
"We're going to need to dress up before the rest wakes up," he muttered, his voice laced with amusement and exhaustion.
Visenya merely chuckled softly while Rhaenys hummed. "Let them try and see."
She was merely joking, of course, and soon enough, before they managed to drift off into the night, Naruto had cleaned and dressed them before he did it to himself. Then, Naruto allowed himself to shut his eyes as the other two lay beside him; their bodies lulled him into a state of peaceful contentment. And as the fire burned low, casting flickering shadows in the cave walls, the three of them lay asleep, their bodies entwined and their hearts beating as one.
At that moment, everything was perfect, even if just for a little while, but the gathering clouds would burst soon enough.
As the Guardian slept, the Kingdoms tethered into the darkness on the hearts of men who wield power, and they sought more as greed crept into their hearts. But in truth, the Guardian never sleeps.
Clones have increased in their activity and numbers; the words imparted to the Guardian by the men that visited him struck harder than he thought, which is why he acted the way he had in these past days, most especially with his summoning of a vast armed force from a place no one in the Seven Kingdoms has heard of, save for him.
This legion made their settlement with the Guardian's approval outside the walls of King's Landing, and it was good. In a short time, they extended the defences of the capital, and now, it is on its way to becoming a very complex and elaborate system of defence.
Several clones took command over various sections of the work done by these foreign soldiers who worked for the Guardian. They worked overnight, around the clock, as they did what they were ordered in a precise manner, unlike anything anyone has ever seen in the Seven Kingdoms today.
"How do you propose strengthening this section that borders the northern bank of the Blackwater Rush?" A clone asked one of the officers as they observed a map of their planned defences.
One of the chief officers exhaled as he came to terms with talking to someone with the same face and voice as his emperor, but he focused on the task. "My Lord… we propose to start by having a fort spanning over the Blackwater Rush, away from the woods and the Tourney Grounds; with that, we would secure the river from any stealth action."
Then, another pointed towards the map of the city and its surroundings. "From this proposed fort, we would like it to be the beginning of the main inner wall, some distance away from the Tourney Grounds."
"Approved," answered the clone, then he returned to a previously discussed part. "Now, on this fort, I believe we should have a great gate beneath it, spanning the river, to block any and would-be pirates."
"Indeed, we shall, my lord," replied another officer as they continued to peruse through their plans.
"Remind me again, how far is the distance between the city's walls and this defensive system's inner wall?"
The chief officer checked some documents before him, and he scanned through them with his eyes as he searched for the answer, and his eyes lit when he found it, then he spoke. "Around a kilometre at its closest from the King's Gate and about 5 kilometres at its furthest from the Gate of the Gods."
"… not very aesthetically pleasing in shape, I imagine, but then, given the design of the capital's walls, we'd have to tear them all down and build new walls to cover for all its flaws, but we have no time for that," replied the clone while the officers nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, my lord, it is as you said."
"Very well," said the clone as he looked at every man in the room. "I won't keep you any longer; keep working on the plans. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
Once the room was left empty apart from him, the silence fell in as it were before the meeting was convened. The clone looked outside and oversaw all that had been going on since the Legions arrived at King's Landing; no doubt, in his mind, it had already spread through all the Seven Kingdoms.
"… ahhh, this is too troublesome."
-Line Break-
Outside the construction areas, on the ramparts of the city walls, there were observers apart from the City Watch. A clone noticed them from his place a while back, but he ignored them in favour of overseeing the construction over his side, seeing that he already knew who they were, and none were in any way, shape or form.
"Trouble's brewing," he muttered, preparing to continue the night.
Then, the faint sound of clattering hooves broke the stillness of the night. Atop the walls, Naruto's clone turned his head sharply towards the source. Three riders approached the gates, flanking the one in the middle. The City Watch stood at attention, their torches casting flickering light upon the newcomers.
"Halt!" one of the guards barked. "State your name and purpose."
The middle rider dismounted, pulling back his hood to reveal a lean, weathered face as he stepped into the torchlight. The insignia of House Tully hung on the breast of his cloak.
"I come bearing word for the Guardian," the man said, his voice was calm yet urgent. "From Lord Tully."
Having already taken note of the messenger and sensed no lies, the clone leapt effortlessly from the ramparts to the ground below. The guards stiffened, but the clone raised a hand to keep their unease from his sudden appearance.
"You have found him," the clone said with a measured tone. "What does Lord Tully ask of me?"
The messenger hesitated momentarily, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the man he sought. Clearing his throat, he produced a sealed scroll and extended it to the clone. "He bids you read this."
Breaking the seal, the clone scanned the letter. His expression darkened as he read, though he remained composed. The words on the parchment carried weight, and true enough, it was Hoster Tully's handwriting: Lannister forces have advanced across the borders of the Riverlands. The countryside is aflame. The Mountain leads them, albeit they do not carry the banner of Lannisters. I have told my men to bring survivors into the capital and ask them for the king's leave to enact justice.
"… Tywin had Clegane, and his men disguise themselves, but Clegane is easily recognisable… Hoster would never write to me like this, given his health, and if he didn't find it necessary." The clone folded the letter carefully, tucking it away into his tunic. "Return to Lord Tully, tell him we will deal with this as soon as we receive the survivors."
Without waiting for a response, the clone jumped away, confusing the messenger and guards.
As dawn broke over the Vale, the real Naruto stirred awake; the memories of his clone had already reached his mind. Visenya and Rhaenys rested against him; their breathing was soft and steady.
Carefully disentangling himself, Naruto rose and stepped outside the cave, the crisp morning air biting at his skin. Tyrion, already awake, sat near the fire with a cup of steaming tea in hand, his mismatched eyes studying Naruto.
"You seem troubled," the dwarf said, his vice lighter than his expression.
"Your father moves against the Riverlands," Naruto replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Clegane is raiding the countryside, setting it aflame."
Tyrion took a slow sip of his tea, the steam wafting around his face as he considered Naruto's words. "Ah, the Mountain; who else would my father send but his mad dog?" he said dryly. "Are we heading for him then?"
"No, the plan remains the same. I ride to King's Landing with all of you, but it's faster than I planned," replied Naruto.
Tyrion raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "So, you're not planning to intercept that fool? That doesn't seem like you, Lord Guardian."
Naruto turned his eyes toward the sun, his expression unreadable. "Clegane is not the objective right now. His rampage will bring refugees to King's Landing and right to Ned's presence."
The youngest son of Tywin tilted his head, his curiosity evident. "Ah, a clever move. Use the chaos to steer the smallfolk's plight into the Hand's lap. He won't be able to ignore it—not with his sense of honour."
Naruto only smiled mysteriously. "If that's how you see it, then let's leave it that way. I have been the protector of the smallfolk before the Targaryen's came, and I intend to continue to be one."
Eventually, the rest of the group roused, and they prepared themselves to leave. The group gathered their belongings as the early morning sunbathed the craggy Vale in a warm glow. Rhaenys secured her armour with practised ease, her silver hair glinting in the light as she adjusted the straps. Nearby, Visenya donned her own gear, her movements sharp and efficient, betraying her readiness for whatever lay ahead.
Tyrion stretched lazily, though his sharp gaze lingered on the two silver-haired women, whose identity still eluded him, though suspicions formed within him. "It's a rare privilege to travel with such capable companions. Most of my journeys are filled with dullards and brutes.
Rhaenys shot him a playful smirk. "Enjoy it while it lasts, Lannister. Soon, you'll be back in the heart of King's Landing—surrounded by vipers and fools."
Tyrion chuckled, though his gaze remained thoughtful. "Vipers and fools, indeed. But at least they're predictable. You two, on the other hand…" He trailed off, his eyes flicking between Rhaenys and Visenya, "You're an enigma. And if there's one thing I dislike, it's mysteries I can't solve."
Visenya glanced at him, and a faint smirk played on her lips. "Perhaps you'll find your answers in King's Landing, Lannister. The capital is full of whispers, some truer than others."
The light of sunset spilled across the floor through the high, narrow windows of the Red Keep's cavernous throne room. Ned Stark sat on the Iron Throne, the immense and ancient seat of Aegon the Conqueror. Knights, high lords, and ladies gathered beneath the tapestries while the smallfolk, the survivors, stood in the gallery. The mailed guards, in their gold cloaks, stood on the sides.
"They burned mostly everything in the Riverlands…" started one of the older men; the emotion in his voice was unmistakable. "Our fields, our granaries, our homes… they took our women, then they took them again when they were done, they butchered them as if they were animals."
Ned grimaced as the man continued. "They covered our children in pitch and lit them on fire."
"Brigands, most likely," someone commented from the side.
"Certainly not," disagreed one of the survivors.
"You're quite certain these were more than brigands?" Varys asked softly from the council table beneath the throne. Pycelle stirred uneasily beside him while Petyr toyed with a pen as he kept a book of records open on his lap. They were the only ones present from the Small Council; everyone else had joined Robert in the Kingswood, namely, Lord Renly and Ser Barristan.
"Brigands, Lord Varys?" A knight's voice dripped in scorn, as did Ser Raymun Darry from the Riverlands, who accompanied the survivors. "Oh, yes, they were brigands all right, beyond any doubt—Lannister brigands."
Unease fell within the hall as the high lords and servants alike listened. He was not surprised, however. The Westerlands and the west in general had been a tinderbox since the news of Catelyn seizing Tyrion broke out. Riverrun and Casterly Rock had called their banners, and armies were massing in the pass below the Golden Tooth.
It was only a matter of time until blood began to flow.
"This is all the remains of the holdfast of Sherrer, Lord Eddard," said a knight, Ser Karyl Vance, as he gestured to the survivors. "The rest are dead, along with the people of Wendish Town and the Mummer's Ford."
Ser Arys Oakheart stood by the throne in silence, the only Kingsguard present, ready to defend the King, or in his absence, the Hand of the King. He watched as Ser Raymun walked towards a plump, balding man.
"Joss," said Ser Raymun. "Tell the Hand what happened at Sherrer."
Joss nodded. "If it pleases His Grace—"
"It's the King's Hand you're addressing," corrected the Grand Maester dismissively. "The King is hunting across the Blackwater."
Ned shared the sentiments of Pycelle in his mind; after all, how could a man live his whole life a few days away ride from King's Landing and still have no notion of what his king looked like?
"I keep… I kept an alehouse, m'lord, at Sherrer, by the stone bridge. Finest south of the Neck. It's gone now, like all the rest, m'lord."
"They burnt us out," said a farmer beside him. "Come ridin' in the dark, up from the south, and set fire on the fields and the houses alike."
Before anyone else said anything, one of the men emptied a sack on the tiled floor. The stench immediately filled the room, and the court saw dead fish, mutilated even.
"Fish! The sigil of House Tully," exclaimed Baelish, turning towards Ned and leaning forward. "Isn't that your wife's house, Tully? My lord Hand?"
Ned eyed him momentarily, not trusting anything that came from Littlefinger's mouth, even when he spoke facts. Pycelle observed Ned, but he did not react to Baelish. Instead, he turned his attention back to the refugees.
"These men…" he spoke loudly, his voice echoing in the throne room as he remained still in the Iron Throne. "Are they flying a sigil?"
"Even Lannisters are not so blind stupid as that, Lord Eddard," another knight spoke up, Ser Marq Piper, and he was as hot-headed as he was hot-blooded.
"Every man was mounted and mailed, my lord," replied Ser Karyl calmly. "Armed with steel-tipped lances and longswords, with battle axes for butchering."
He then gestured to one of the survivors. "You. Yes, you, you're safe here. Tell the Hand what you told me."
The old man nodded. "Concerning their horses, m'lord, it was warhorses they rode. Many a year, I worked in old Ser Willum's stables, so I know the difference. Not a one of these ever pulled a plough; gods bear witness if I'm wrong."
"Well-mounted brigands," commented Littlefinger. "Perhaps they stole the horses from the last place they raided."
"How many men were there?" Ned asked and received multiple answers at the same time.
Joss said there were a hundred at least, another said fifty, and finally, an old woman spoke about the brigands being an army.
"You are more right than you know, good woman," Ned told her before he turned towards the rest. "You say they flew no banners. What of the armour they wore? Were there any ornaments or decorations?"
Joss shook his head. "None, m'lord, the one who was leadin' them—taller by a foot than any man I've ever met; cut the blacksmith in two, saw him take off a horse's head with a single swing of his sword. I swear those who say the giants are all dead never saw this one. Big as an ox he was, and a voice like stone breaking."
Ned became stone-faced; he knew exactly who that was, yet he said nothing, for Ser Marq did it for him.
"The Mountain! Can any man doubt it? This was Gregor Clegane's work."
Ned heard mutterings from beneath the windows and the far end of the hall. Nervous whispers were exchanged, for the high lords and smallfolk alike knew what it could mean if Ser Marq was correct. Clegane is a bannerman of Lord Tywin Lannister.
He studied the frightened faces of the survivors, and now things made sense to him, but before anything else, Grand Maester Pycelle stood ponderously from the table, his chain of office clinking.
"Ser Marq, with respect, you cannot know that this brigand was Ser Gregor. There are other large men in the realm."
"As large as the Mountain that Rides?" Ser Karyl rhetorically asked. "None."
"Nor has any man here," Ser Raymun added hotly. "Even the brother is a pup compared to him. Do you need to see his seal on the corpses? It was Gregor."
"Now, why would Ser Gregor turn brigand?" The Grand Maester asked as he looked at Ser Raymun. "By the grace of his liege lord, he holds a keep and his own lands. The man is an anointed knight."
"A false knight!" Ser Marq shouted. "Lord Tywin's mad dog."
"My lord Hand," Pycelle declared stiffly, "I urge you to remind this good knight that Lord Tywin Lannister is the father of our gracious queen."
Ned sighed but replied, nonetheless. "Thank you, Grand Maester Pycelle… I fear we might have forgotten that if you had not pointed it out."
His eyes watched the far end of the hall, where men had begun slipping out of the door—spies of the queen, no doubt, and Ned knew it. But his blood turned hot when he spied a glance of Septa Mordane with his daughter Sansa. This was no place for a girl, but then, how could they have known that today's court would be anything but normal?
The Master of Coin lost interest with his quill and leaned forward. "Ser Marq, Ser Karyl, Ser Raymun—a question, if you don't mind. These holdfasts were under your protection. Where were you in the middle of this?"
Ser Karyl answered immediately to prevent his ill-tempered companions from speaking. "I was with my father, my lord father, at the pass below the Golden Tooth, as was Ser Marq. When the word of these atrocities reached Ser Edmure Tully, he sent word that we should find any survivors and bring them to the king."
"Ser Edmure summoned me to Riverrun with all my strength." Ser Raymun explained, continuing, "I was camped across the river from his walls when the word reached me. By the time I could return to my lands, Gregor and his filth were back across the Red Fork, hiding for Lannister hills."
"And should they return, what then, Ser?" Baelish inquired as he stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Should they return, we'll water the fields they burned with their blood," declared Ser Marq hotly.
"Ser Edmure has sent men to every village and holdfast within a day's ride of the border," explained Ser Karyl, though he continued. "The raiders will not have an easy time."
"And that may be exactly what Tywin wants," Ned thought to himself, "bleeding off the strength of Riverrun, goad the boy into scattering his swords…"
His thoughts moved towards his wife's younger brother, young and more gallant than wise. He is the sort to defend and hold every inch of his soil, to come in defence of every man, woman, and child who called lord, and Ned knew that Tywin Lannister was shrewd enough to know that.
Ned heard Petyr speaking, and he listened. "If your fields and holdfasts are now safe, what do you ask of the throne?"
"The lords of the Trident keep the king's peace," stated Ser Raymun. "The Lannisters have broken it. We ask leave to answer them, steel for steel, blood for blood. We ask justice for the smallfolk of Sherrer, Wendish Town, and the Mummer's Ford."
"Edmure agrees with us that we must pay Gregor Clegane back his bloody coin," declared Ser Marq, "but old Lord Hoster commanded us to come here and beg the king's leave before we strike, as well as the Lord Guardian's aid."
"Thank the gods for Lord Hoster," Ned thought because he knew Tywin was as much a fox as a lion, but Naruto would probably disagree and call the old lion a snake.
There was no doubt in Ned's mind that Tywin sent Gregor to burn and pillage in disguise. But thanks to the wisdom of Hoster Tully, Riverrun had sent for the king's leave before striking back. The Queen and her father would have insisted that the Tully's broke the king's peace if Riverrun struck back.
Ned watched as Pycelle stood up again, this time looking up at him. "My lord Hand, if these good people believe that Ser Gregor had forsaken his vows for rape and plunder, let them go his liege lord and make their complaints. These crimes are no concern of the throne. Let them seek Lord Tywin's justice."
The Hand narrowed his eyes, looking down at the Grand Maester with suspicion. He could see where the old man wanted to lead the direction of the current proceedings, away from blaming Tywin as if he was afraid of the old lion or, perhaps, something else.
"Where is Naruto when you need him… ah, right, he's supposed to bring back my wife and Tyrion here." Ned gathered his thoughts, everything going back to his initial arrival at King's Landing, at everything that had been said and done. "… Starks and Lannisters at each other's throats… I see; Naruto is correct; someone has been doing malicious deeds in the shadows; the question now is: how deep does that go? Then there's the Grand Maester…"
"It is the King's Justice," Ned told Pycelle. "It does not matter where; north, south, east, or west, all we do in Robert's name."
Eddard looked around the throne room to see if Naruto or any of his clones were watching from somewhere, but alas, he was nowhere to be seen; ever since he left to find Catelyn and Tyrion, quite some time had passed by now.
"The King's justice," Grand Maester Pycelle emphasised. "So it is, and so we must defer this matter until the king—"
"The king is hunting across the river and may not return for days," said Ned, cutting him off. "Robert bid Naruto and me to sit in his place, listen with his ears, and speak with his voice. I intend to do that… though I agree that he must be told."
The others observed him carefully, listening to whatever he would say next.
"Ser Robar," Ned called for someone standing beneath the green tapestries. It was Ser Robar Royce, the second son of Lord Yohn Royce of Runestone, and he stepped forward and bowed to Ned.
"My Lord."
"Your father is hunting with the king," Ned said. "Will you bring word of was said and done at court?"
"At once, my lord."
Marq made his voice heard once more. "Do we have leave to take our vengeance against Ser Gregor?"
"Vengeance?" Ned raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were speaking about justice. Burning Clegane's fields and slaughtering his people will not restore the king's peace."
He glanced away from the knight and turned to the survivors.
"I cannot give you back your homes or restore your dead to lives…" the refugees bowed in sorrow as Ned continued, "… but, perhaps I can give you justice, in the name of our king, Robert…"
However, before he could speak any further, the doors of the throne room opened to reveal Naruto and his companions, as well as an escort of his soldiers—those who came from the sea in the massive ships and were now building the expansion of the capital.
"Lord Naruto of the House Uzumaki, By the Grace of Almighty God, Steward to the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Shield of Westeros, Lord Guardian of the Seven Kingdoms, and Dragonlord of Old Valyria!" announced one of Naruto's men, though, his titles caught the attention of many in the throne room.
"Together with Lady Catelyn of the House Stark, Lady of Winterfell and Lord Tyrion of the House Lannister!"
Ned sat in attention and relief as he saw his wife, his friend, and the not-so-kidnapped son of Tywin Lannister. The refugees bowed as Naruto walked past them, and they parted before him. The knights from Riverlands watched Tyrion with silent anger.
"Accompanied by Lady Visenya of the House Uzumaki, Lord Commander of the Uzumaki Legions and Lady Rhaenys of the House Uzumaki, Lord Admiral of the Uzumaki Fleet."
Murmurs rose from the crowd as Naruto kept onwards, with him Catelyn and Tyrion, followed by Visenya and Rhaenys, and those two women took most of the attention because their appearance was far too familiar, especially with the older high lords and ladies.
Naruto ascended the iron steps of the Iron Throne, and Eddard met him halfway as they embraced. However, before the Stark could say anything else, the Guardian whispered to his ears. "I heard what happened; now your wife and Tyrion are both here."
"Thank you, my friend, for being here at the right moment," Ned whispered back to him.
Meanwhile, Varys, Petyr, and Pycelle watched the two, though their eyes also spied the silver-haired women who followed their Naruto. This continued for much longer as both Hand and Guardian conferred with one another through whispers, yet no one could hear them.
Then, Naruto faced the crowd, especially the refugees, as Eddard returned to the Iron Throne but did not sit.
"Lord Guardian!" A shout came from the west side of the hall, and a boy strode forth boldly. Ser Loras Tyrell looked younger than his sixteen years when out of his armour. He wore pale blue silk, his belt linked by a chain of golden roses.
"Lord Hand, Lord Guardian, I beg of you the honour of handing down the king's justice."
But before Naruto or Ned could reply, Petyr made himself heard. "Ser Loras, if we send you off alone, Ser Gregor would send us back your head with a plum stuffed in that mouth of yours."
"I do not fear Gregor Clegane," declared Loras haughtily.
Naruto shook his head before he scanned the faces along the wall. "Lord Beric, Thoros of Myr, Ser Gladden, Lord Lothar."
The men stepped forward one by one as they were called. "Each of you is to assemble twenty men to bring the Hand's word to Gregor's keep. Twenty of the Hand's guards will be with you. Lord Beric Dondarrion, you shall have the command of these men, befitting your rank."
The young Lord of Blackhaven with red-gold hair walked forward and bowed. "As you command, Lord Guardian, Lord Hand."
His eyes then turned towards his own men, past Catelyn and Tyrion, to Visenya. "Dearest Visenya, how many men do we have in reserve?"
Visenya raised an eyebrow, though she understood why Naruto asked her vocally before the court—so that word would travel to all ears as a warning. But it also brought attention to her specifically.
"We have tens of thousands in reserve; half of them are outside the walls of King's Landing, and the rest are waiting in your ships. Of course, that does not include the bulk of your men working around the hours of the day, expanding and fortifying the city."
Whispers amongst the crowd returned; none of them knew how many men the Guardian commanded, but to think that tens of thousands of men were merely in reserve, with no specific number, it meant that he commands far more than that, given how busy the outside of King's Landing has been since these mysterious forces arrived.
Naruto's eyes turned to the men who came with him, and he gave them an order. "Officers, send for Cohors XV Nibenorum and Cohors VII Skingranorum; tell them to await my orders."
Five of his men bowed and hastily ran out of the throne room, leaving fifteen to guard them.
Naruto expected that a hundred men would be slaughtered by Gregor and the forces of House Lannister, which is why he sent for one heavy cavalry cohort and one mounted missile cohort, two thousand in total—not that anyone in the throne room knew about that, except Visenya and Rhaenys.
Then, he turned towards Ned, who nodded and faced the court but directed his attention to Lord Beric. "In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm…"
"I, Eddard of the House Stark, his Hand, together with Naruto of the House Uzumaki…" Ned paused as he did not know the titles of Naruto, aside from the one everyone knew, and he had just heard them say it for the first time. "Steward to the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Shield of Westeros, Lord Guardian of the Seven Kingdoms… and Dragonlord of Old Valyria…"
"Charge you to ride to the Westerlands with all haste, to cross the Red Fork of the Trident under the king's flag, and there, bring the king's justice to the false knight, Gregor Clegane, and all those who shared in his crimes. I denounce him, and attaint him, and strip him of all ranks and titles, of all lands and holdings, and do sentence him to death."
Pycelle stood wearily, "My Lord, this… this is a drastic action; it would be better to wait for King Robert's return."
"Grand Maester Pycelle," called out Naruto loudly.
"My lord Guardian," Pycelle bowed to him.
"Send a raven to Casterly Rock…" Naruto paused, knowing that his following words would set things in motion that cannot be undone easily; then, he looked at Tyrion, who looked back at him with a question on his face.
Tyrion feared what may come, but then his father held no love for him, despite sending the Mountain to Catelyn's girlhood home, so he remained quiet and awaited the words from the Guardian. Meanwhile, Varys sat quietly, awaiting his master's following words and thinking of what must be done, especially with the other thing that concerns other members of the House Lannister—the children of Cersei and Jaime.
Robert's absence put a halt to their intention of telling him what Jon Arryn had discovered, but Varys had no doubts about what the Hand and the Guardian would say to him as soon as that hunt ended. However, now it seems the old lion will be in the mix, which only proves Naruto's words that the Wolf and the Lion will be at each other's throats.
"Inform Tywin Lannister that he has been summoned to court to answer for the crimes of his bannerman… he will arrive within the fortnight or be branded an enemy of the crown and traitor to the realm."
His voice reached up to the far end of the hall, and everyone heard him clearly. Now, it was settled—the two most powerful men in the realm against one another, and so it appears that the Starks have been shielded from the ire of the Lannisters.
However, he was not finished. "Lord Varys."
The whisperings in the hall were silenced when Naruto called for the Master of Whisperers. Varys stood up and faced Naruto as he bowed. "My lord Guardian."
"Send a raven to Dragonstone, tell Lord Stannis that as Master of Ships, he is needed in the capital and the royal fleet. The Guardian summons him."
A/N: Ah, this was heavily based on "A Game of Thrones, Chapter 43, Eddard XI."
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