Chapter 4-Counter Moves
Sure enough, as Varys and Sub-Zero feared, a violent war had begun with Robert of House Baratheon leading a rebellion against the Crown with his allies. The stories and songs of the events will say it had started when Lyanna Stark was taken away by Prince Rheagar. It will continue with how the Warden of the North, Rickard Stark, went South to King's Landing demanding the return of his daughter. Only for the man to be put in chains and his eldest son Brandon Stark commanded by the Mad King to come down to King's Landing to answer for his Father's crimes.
Sub-Zero had sent a secret message to Brandon that it was a trap and he would die along with his Father if he went South to King's Landing. Unfortunately, the message had not been marked by any kind seal or identifying sigil for who sent it in order to keep anyone else from reading its contents. As such, the anonymous message sent to Brandon was sadly ignored, as the man had become blinded by his anger at what was happening to his family.
As a result, both Starks met the fate of burning alive while the Mad King watched and laughed while they suffered before dying.
Sure enough, as Sub-Zero feared, the very teachings he imparted to these young Lords were used against one another. House Baratheon, House Arryn, House Tully, and the Houses of the North all came down upon House Targaryen. The actions of the Mad King and now the Prince was too much for them to tolerate any longer. Many had hoped the Prince would be different from his Father, but his actions toward Lyanna Stark showed them that the man would just as bad, if not worse!
So they decided to end the madness by ending House Targaryen to further ensure no such madness existed ever again as a result of their incest related practice of having a "pure" bloodline. It was a brutal war. Moves and countermoves. Weather, violence, and vicious battles had left a massive death toll on both sides of the war. Sub-Zero and his clan did their best to keep the war from spilling out to the smallfolk, discreetly coordinating with Varys and his little birds to know where battles were going to be fought so the smallfolk could be escorted to safety. It wasn't easy and the clan's numbers were stretched thin in the process despite the Lin Kuei being successful for the most part.
House Targaryen had allies of course. Mostly from the South such as House Tyrell and the Kingdom of Dorne. Of course, they didn't know what Prince Rheagar had done in terms of annulling the marriage to Elia Martel prior to marrying Lyanna Stark in secret. Not that it would have matter despite the feeling of being slighted since as long as their Dornish Princess, and her children that were Rheagar's were still in King's Landing along with the Royal Court they had to fight for the Crown.
Doran had attempted to convince the King through multiples messages to send Elia and her children to Dorne where they could be better protected. He had promised that Dorne would keep fighting for the Mad King's House, but King Aerys II wouldn't listen to him. Of course the Mad King would send his wife and sister to Dragonstone, but not his son's former wife and her children.
So Prince Doran sought out another route in the form of his old teacher, Sub-Zero, in the hopes he could do something for his House.
(Dorne-Sunspear-At the Moment)
"Thank you for visiting me Grandmaster. Your coming here despite everything that has happened is most appreciated," said Doran knowing secrecy was imperative here and no one in Dorne would betray the leader of the Lin Kuei.
"I welcome your hospitality Prince Doran. I also know or suspect why you requested this particular meeting," said Sub-Zero while he enjoyed the tea provided by Doran, who had developed his own fondness for tea through the Grandmaster.
Many called it a "woman's drink" and it was better to drink wine. But Doran didn't see tea that way. Not when Sub-Zero showed and explained the benefits of tea over that of wine.
With tea, you could drink it all day without your mind becoming drowsy or weak due to intoxication. Wine had its limits in terms of how much you could drink a day. Not to mention too much wine on a daily basis would cripple your health. Tea did not have that issue and could even be used to rejuvenate the body and the mind.
Doran had preferred to keep his mind sharp in order to continue ruling Dorne long after this war with the Usurper was over.
"Your skills of deduction have not lost their edge Grandmaster. But yes, I asked you here for help of the most extreme importance. It is in regards to my sister. Elia Martell. I need your help in extracting her from King's Landing. This fruitless war is not going in favor of the Targaryens despite Prince Rheagar using your teachings to combat Robert. Many of your students from the first attempt at teaching have sided with House Baratheon to combat Rheagar's tactical prowess. Stannis Baratheon has been the only strategist capable of handling the Prince's moves while Robert uses his muscles, power, and war hammer to cut through his enemies like wet parchment. I believe it is only a matter of time before House Baratheon wins this war and destroys everything connected to House Targaryen," said Doran with Sub-Zero nodding since he got reports of Robert constantly saying how he would wipe out every last dragon related to the Targaryens.
"And with your sister having married Prince Rheagar along with giving him children, it will no doubt make her a potential target," said Sub-Zero with Doran nodding.
"I have always respected you Grandmaster. For your patience. For the teachings you gave me. To my brother. To Ser Arthur Dayne of Starfall. You have always been a friend to my House. To Dorne. Which is why I humbly request your help. I need you or some of your most trusted subordinates to infiltrate King's Landing and sneak out Elia along with her children from the Red Keep. It is no longer safe for them there. I fear for her safety and the safety of her children," said Doran with Sub-Zero nodding.
"I will go there myself. Such an assignment is too important to leave to my subordinates. Sadly, they are not ready for such an important assignment. Even if some of them were, I do not have the number of agents required for such a mission to be successful," said Sub-Zero with Doran bowing slightly toward him.
"Thank you Grandmaster. My House and Dorne will always be in your debt for this act," said Doran while Sub-Zero slowly rose from his seat.
"I will leave immediately. From what reports I have been able to read over prior arriving here, Robert Baratheon and Prince Rheagar will soon clash at the Trident. Not only that, but I heard rumblings in the West with Tywin Lannister trying to discreetly mobilize his army. I suspect he is seeing a moment of opportunity coming and wishes to make a move to assist the winning side. If Rheagar loses, he will back Robert Baratheon in attacking King's Landing. If Robert loses, he will back the Prince, but only on the condition that Rheagar marries Cersei while annulling his marriage to your sister, and cutting out her children from their right to the Iron Throne," said Sub-Zero knowing Tywin Lannister was an ambitious man and opportunist who would side with anyone who could give him what he wanted.
Walder Frey of House Frey was similar to him in that regard. Even now, reports of House Frey providing minimum support to House Tully was showing the man didn't want to be on side with the losing force. There was always a chance Rheagar could win against the opposing side and House Frey would side with the army that would reward it. If House Frey had been truly loyal to House Tully, they would have brought their army to front with Robert's forces.
Instead, they were going to wait until the smoke clears in this war to see who they should swear fealty to and think about what they will get for showing it.
"I won't delay you any further. Take the fastest horse Dorne can offer if you must. Please! Bring my sister back to me. To Dorne," said Doran with Sub-Zero nodding.
"You have nothing to fear Prince Doran. For I am the Grandmaster of Lin Kuei. And as a Lin Kuei, I am stealthy as the night and deadlier then the dawn," said Sub-Zero before he left the room and Doran let out a sigh of relief.
(King's Landing-Sometime Later)
When Sub-Zero finally arrived in King's Landing, it was already being sacked by Tywin Lannister after the King let him and House Lannister's army into the city. He had moved swiftly along his route to head for the capital, but had encountered a small contingent of House Lannister soldiers. The men had orders to stop, delay, or kill any possible soldiers in this war depending on which side they were on.
Sub-Zero had kill them and interrogated their commanding officer to learn the recent new of Prince Rheagar dying at the Trident at the hands of Robert Baratheon himself via war hammer to the chest. Rheagar had nearly one the day, but a misstep on the ground around him near the river put the man off balance long enough for Robert to get in close and hit the Prince with his war hammer for a lethal strike.
And the rest they say, is history.
But Sub-Zero could not mourn for the loss of one of his most promising students. Not yet at least. No. The Lin Kuei warrior had a mission and it was to find Elia Martell and bring her back to Dorne where she could truly be safe with her family. Fortunately, Sub-Zero knew of several secret passages that would allow him to enter the Red Keep without being detected thanks to Varys. The Spider felt if there was ever a time the Grandmaster needed to enter King's Landing unnoticed, a few of these secret doors would be useful.
Just like now.
Even now, Sub-Zero heard the sounds of fighting and dying within the Red Keep. No doubt the Kingsguard were fighting Lannister forces and unfortunately losing. As the fighting increased, Sub-Zero had to move swiftly around the fighting, getting involved in beating or killing Lannister soldiers that stood in his way.
Fortunately, one of the dying Kingsguard had recognized him and told Sub-Zero that Elia Martell was in her room with the children several floors above them. Unfortunately, they would soon be visited by Tywin Lannister's personal mad dog Ser Gregor Clegane and his pig man monster Armory Lorch.
They were the one that had brutally injured the Kingsguard with the fatal blows before running up the nearby stairs.
Cursing, Sub-Zero followed the bloody trail those two personal monsters of one Tywin Lannister left behind with broken dead bodies of Kingsguard in their wake. When he had arrived, Sub-Zero's fury grew at the sight of the dead baby after someone apparently had the audacity to smash said baby's head against the stone wall. Further into the room, the form of Armory Lorch was seen with a young girl crying out in horror as she was about to be stabbed by a knife. Nearby, Gregor Clegane was on top of Elia Martell, ripping her dress around her waist, and his bloodlust could be felt clearly by everyone.
"Go ahead! Scream for mommy! Scream out while she screams back like a good Dornish whore!" exclaimed Armory Lorch with glee with the girl Rhaenys crying harder.
"How about you step away from them," remarked Sub-Zero coldly and getting the full attention of both men.
"You! I know you. Some kind of ice using fucker who thinks he is some great warrior and teacher of High Lords," said Armory Lorch with a sneer on his ugly face.
"And you are Tywin Lannister's prized monsters. Rabid animals that don't know when to stop killing until there is no one left to kill," Sub-Zero shot back while making a block of ice in his hands and shattered it.
"Your cheap abilities don't frighten us. There is nothing special about someone like you. All talk and no real skill," said Armory Lorch while Gregor Clegane glared at Sub-Zero since the man was interrupting his violation of the woman underneath him.
"If you are so confident of that fact, come and face me...if you dare!" countered Sub-Zero while Armory Lorch's face twisted into something truly ugly while Gregor Clegane was snarling like a mad dog being denied the food it was promised.
"You fucking ice cunt! I will enjoy butchering your body just like I was going to do to this Dornish whore once I finished fucking her!" exclaimed Gregor Clegane, as he got off Elia Martell knowing he could get back to her later, and charged at Sub-Zero with a level of speed someone of his size should not possess.
Sub-Zero had seen faster movements from Johnny Cage when the man was having a slow day.
As such, the Lin Kuei warrior had no problem creating and hitting Gregor Clegane with an ice blast that sent the giant man back into the wall behind him. After impact, Sub-Zero continued to use his freezing powers to trap Clegane in place under a thick sheet of bone chilling ice.
"And now there was one," said Sub-Zero before he walked toward Armory Lord, who was now using the young girl as a hostage.
"Stay back! Or the Dornish bitch is going to know what it feels like to be on the pointy end of this knife!" threatened Armory Lorch while Sub-Zero's form seem to generate more cold temperature in the room.
Even Sub-Zero's breath behind his mask was coming out and the eyes were now shining a very icy blue at an increasingly terrified Armory Lorch.
"We both know you won't do that," said Sub-Zero with Armory Lorch looking even more nervous with each step the Lin Kuei took.
"And why not? I am the one holding the knife. I am the one holding the girl. I am the one holding the position of power here," said Armory Lorch while trying to put on a brave front while Sub-Zero's eyes narrowed.
"Because the moment you kill that girl, is the moment I make sure you follow her. And I will make sure your death is not quick. It will not be clean. And before the end, you will learn the cold hard truth," said Sub-Zero while his right hand formed a sword made of ice.
"And what so called truth is that?" asked Armory Lorch while seeing Gregor Clegane was trying to break free.
"Considering what you and the animal behind us was about to do, I thought it would be obvious. There are worse fates then death!" stated Sub-Zero coldly before he spun around and stabbed Clegane right in the skull with his ice sword up to the hilt.
Everyone watched in horror as Clegane's skin went pale, his veins being seeable, and it his entire body was freezing up. Before anyone could say anything, Sub-Zero looked Armory Lorch right in the eyes and yanking the ice weapon down to let the frozen guts of the giant man fall out onto the floor.
"Fuck! Fine! Take the Dornish bitch! This isn't worth what Tywin Lannister was going to pay me!" exclaimed Armory Lorch before he threw Rhaenys at him and ran for the exit.
Moving the frightened girl to side, Sub-Zero quickly used his powers to freeze the ground toward the exit and caused Lorch to slide on the ice into the steps heading down below. If the man, by some miracle, didn't break his neck on the way down, the rest of his pathetic body would be despite the armor protecting him.
Turning around, he saw the girl was holding her Mother, both of them crying while the Mother was at least trying to comfort the child. Every so often, Elia glanced at him with a hint of worry or fear. Not surprising since she had just nearly been violated by Clegane and her child nearly stabbed by Armory Lorch. Sub-Zero's one regret in this whole affair was arriving too late to save the baby boy in all of this.
"You need not fear me Elia Martell. I did not come here to save you from those beasts for men just to bring about your death or suffering by my hands," said Sub-Zero while Elia calmed down a bit and seemed to gain control of her fear.
"My brothers always spoke highly of you," commented Elia while still keeping a cautious eye on him while trying to be a shield for her daughter.
"Your brother Doran asked me to retrieve you from King's Landing. Prince Rheagar is dead and as you can tell from the fighting outside the Red Keep, the city is being sacked by Baratheon allies," said Sub-Zero with Elia held her daughter tighter.
"The Usurper will come here. Along with more of his supporters. He will want me dead and my eldest child now that she is all I have left," replied Elia while Sub-Zero shook his head.
"So long as live and draw breath, no one will dare lay a hand, sword, knife, spear, or any blade against you Lady Martell," said Sub-Zero while Elia nodded since she trusted this man to protect her from all manner of threats.
Her brothers trusted this man when learning under him. She would trust him now with her safety and the safety of Rhaenys.
"We need to escape this room before more Lannister soldiers arrive," said Elia with Sub-Zero nodding.
"Indeed. Though escaping from the Red Keep may prove more challenging with the way the fighting is going. Stay close," said Sub-Zero before he began to exit the room, but stopped and glanced back at Elia.
"What is it?" asked Elia before she saw him look around and saw some curtains by the window and ripped them off.
"Wrap this around yourself in various places. If we are caught and brought before Robert Baratheon, I do not want him to see you in a state unbefitting of a Princess of Dorne. It would only encourage him to do something foolish," said Sub-Zero before he handed the red colored sheets to Elia, who now realized what he meant.
The Dornish woman's dress was torn in multiple places and robes around it was slightly torn along the right shoulder. Her hair was messy with a bloody lip after Gregor Clegane had backhanded Elia after smashing down the door. She hardly looked like a dignified Dornish Princess at the moment with her current attire representing it nearly being torn apart.
Quickly wrapping the sheets around her form in those damaged places, Elia quickly had her daughter tie each section together. It wasn't exactly the latest fashion, but all things considered, the Dornish woman was not going to complain in the slightest.
"I'm ready," said Elia with Rhaenys right beside her.
"Good. Stay quiet and take this," said Sub-Zero before he picked up the knife Armory Lorch dropped when he went sliding out of the room to the stairs.
Elia nodded knowing that if they ran into trouble, Sub-Zero could only hold off so many of them at once. All it would take was one getting around or through him to get to Elia and her daughter. If that did happen, Sub-Zero wanted to make sure the woman could defend herself to some degree.
With that done, the three of them quickly, but quietly made their way down the stairs to the next level. He saw Armory Lorch on the ground, moaning in pain, his right leg was broken along with left arm at the elbow. The pig man had also lost some of his teeth and sporting a bleeding gash wound on his forehead.
Elia merely snarled at the downed man and cursed him in several languages she knew before spitting on him. As they made their way further, all three of them were able to avoid Lannister soldiers along with several from the Baratheons, who had now entered the city with Robert leading the way, and wanting to make sure everything Targaryen was destroyed.
"Grandmaster?" asked a familiar voice with Sub-Zero having entered a corridor.
"Eddard Stark. I see you are still alive. I'm glad," said Sub-Zero while he saw the young Lord of House Stark nod briefly before seeing Elia and Rhaenys behind him.
"Is that...Princess Elia Martell? And her daughter?" asked Ned while Sub-Zero gave him a nod, but did nothing to lower his guard.
"It is. I am taking them to safety and back to Dorne per her brother's request," said Sub-Zero with Eddard understanding.
"What happened to the baby? Last I heard, Elia had just given birth to a son," said Ned while Sub-Zero's masked face became grim.
"He's dead. When I arrived in Princess Martell's chambers, she was being attacked by two of House Lannister's men. One of them killed the baby by smashing his head into the wall while the other planned to kill Rhaenys," said Sub-Zero with Ned going green in the face at this news
"By the Gods," whispered Ned since he never thought someone would go that far.
"One was about to violate me while my daughter watched," added Elia Martell while she glared at Ned Stark since it was his sister that caused Rheagar leave her and start this war.
"In any case, we need to go before our plan to escape is discovered," said Sub-Zero with Ned shaking his head.
"I'm afraid you can't leave. The Red Keep is being locked down as we speak. You'll never be able to enter the way you came into King's Landing," said Ned while Sub-Zero knew that was always a distinct possibility.
"What do we do?" asked Elia while concerned for her daughter above all else.
"Robert is expected to be crowned the new King in the throne room. Your best course of action would be to convince him to let you go," said Ned while Sub-Zero nor Elia seemed convinced Robert would do that considering everything.
"Best course of action? Ha! I might as well slit my daughter's throat and mine to save the Usurper the trouble of killing us," said Elia venomously while Ned flinching a bit since Robert had a growing hatred for anyone close to House Targaryen.
Even the Tyrell's were on shaky ground right now since they had been fighting loyally to the bitter end and only surrendered recently in exchange for mercy.
"My bannermen will be with us. No harm will come to you while under my protection or the Grandmaster's. Many Lords fighting in this war respect him and his words do carry a significant amount of weight," said Ned knowing it would take his words, Jon Arryn, and Sub-Zero to convince Robert to spare Elia and her daughter the sword to their necks.
Sure enough, Ned led them closer to the throne room with Northern bannermen waiting for him to arrive. He quickly explained to his men that no harm was to come to Sub-Zero, Elia Martell, or Rhaenys Martell no matter what. Elia was grateful that the young Lord of House Stark had the decency to use her House name over that of Rheagar's to ensure any animosity they had was not directed at her or Rhaenys. She had hard the screams of the two Stark men as they burned alive while the Mad King laughed. Elia shivered in fear and held Rhaenys that day while praying the now former ruler of the Seven Kingdoms would never do the same to her family.
Now here she was, walking into the throne room with her own child. Surrounded on all sides by bannerman from House Tully, Baratheon, Stark, Bolton, Umber, Arryn, and Lannister to name a select few. Further into the room was Robert Baratheon sitting on the Iron Throne with Roose Bolton on one side and Tywin Lannister on the other while Jon Arryn stood beside the Iron Throne. They had been talking for some time, but now with Ned approaching with his three guests, the conversations stopped, and they focused on them.
"Well, if it isn't the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei himself. Heh. I remember when we were all learning under you at that shit place you call a home. You were so invested in Rheagar being your most promising student. Now look at him! Dead at the Trident thanks to my skill with a war hammer smashing into his chest plate and helmet. Crushing his bones and guts into mush while his body sank into the water. Does that upset you? Does that hurt you knowing the dragon spawn for a Targaryen is dead oh wise teacher?" said Robert in a mocking tone aimed at the stoic Lin Kuei warrior.
"I mourn the loss of all my students who perished in this war. Perhaps you would do the same, if you would look beyond your own meaningless rage," countered Sub-Zero with Robert looking angry before glancing over at Elia and Rhaenys.
"I don't have to do shit of what you say you fucking ice cunt. I'm the King now and my word is law! I get what I want and what I want is the dragon spawn beside that Dornish bitch to be killed here and now!" commanded Robert while many men drew there swords to carry out the command.
"Robert wait! Don't do this!" pleaded Ned while Robert looked at him.
"Do what? The Seven Kingdoms will thank me for this. You know what she is! Who her Father was. Anyone descended from his blood will die. I swore to myself that I would wipe out every last dragon spawn in the Seven Kingdoms and by the Mother, I will damn make sure it happens," said Robert before the room got increasingly cold from Sub-Zero's power.
"She's just a child Robert! An innocent girl. You would punish her for the action of the man she calls Father?" demanded Ned with Robert's hands tightening into fists.
"She is born of Rheagar's blood. Don't you get it Ned? When old enough, she'll spread her legs like all the Dornish whores from their fucking Kingdom. What happens when she birth's a son? A possible heir to the Iron Throne to challenge my rule! I won't have it Ned!" exclaimed Robert angrily while his eyes moved from Ned to Rhaenys.
"And what about Dorne? Do you think they will stand by and allow this?" asked Ned while Jon Arryn nodding in agreement.
"Robert, you know we need to bring Dorne into the fold. If you kill the girl, it will only cause Dorne to break away. And who is to say others won't do the same?" said Jon Arryn while Robert looked away.
"She is a Targaryen by blood Lord Arryn. Better to be merciful and end her life should people wish to have her suffer for the crimes Rheagar and Aerys II committed," said Tywin while wondering where Armory Lorch and Gregor Clegane were right now.
Though given how the Lin Kuei Grandmaster was here, Tywin had an idea on what happened to his most vicious weapons in his army.
"If that were true, the children from half the people in this room should be killed for the sins of their parents. Your eldest son included Lord Tywin. Or do you think that being a Lannister gives you and yours a free pass?" questioned Sub-Zero with Tywin glaring at him.
"And what would you do oh wise Grandmaster? Send these two back to Dorne? Let the girl grow up to be a woman and breed?" remarked Robert angrily at Sub-Zero.
"You want Dorne to swear fealty? You want to keep your rule from being the shortest in the history of Westeros? You want to have long lasting peace? By returning Elia Martell and her daughter to Dorne, you will make all of those things happen," said Sub-Zero with Robert seething and Tywin frowning.
"I still say both of them should die. Control Dorne through fear. Let Prince Doran and all the bastards within that Kingdom know if they get out of line, they will meet their fate," said Tywin Lannister coldly while he never liked Elia or the fact she was chosen to marry Rheagar over his own daughter Cersei.
"Ruling through fear will only last so long as the one they fear is alive and is capable of making them fear you. What King Aerys II did during his madness filled years made a lot of people fear him until certain people in this room had enough of living in fear. If you do kill them, the people will see you as just another Mad King. No one will tolerate or allow one Mad King to replace another," countered Sub-Zero while Robert growled, but it was clear the Baratheon King understood.
"And what is to stop Rhaenys Targaryen from challenging our new King here for the Iron Throne with a son in the years to come," said Tywin while trying to keep the fear of the dragon's return alive in Robert's mind.
"Because she is a Martell. Not a Targaryen. Besides, she is not the only one here who can claim to have Targaryen blood in their veins. Isn't that right, young Robert?" commented Sub-Zero while glancing at Robert, who stiffened at the implication.
While he was of House Baratheon, Robert did have Targaryen blood in his veins. Not as much as say a "pure blooded" member like Rheagar or his younger brother Viserys. But enough that he could claim the Iron Throne by that sliver of blood in his veins that said as much. Still, Robert considered himself to be more stag then dragon. He hated them and maybe even hated apart of himself for having blood of those dragon spawn in his veins.
But it was that same sliver of blood that allowed him to ascend to the Iron Throne since Prince Rheagar was dead and his little brother Viserys was far too young to take it. Not that Robert would allow him to try when old enough. Even now, his brother was planning to use the fleet to sail to Dragonstone and capture the little shit along with the last full blooded female Targaryen currently pregnant with the Mad King's final child. If it was a boy, it was another dragon spawn capable of challenging Robert for the Iron Throne in the event of Viserys dying. And if it was a girl, it would be long before the girl turned into a woman and began breeding children to continue the Mad King's bloodline.
"Besides, both of them returning to Dorne alive would help with one more issue," added Sub-Zero and invade the new King's thoughts.
"What issue?" asked Tywin with a frown.
"Lyanna Stark. I know where she is," answered Sub-Zero with Robert having jumped right off the Iron Throne almost four feet in the air.
"What?! And you are just mentioning this now?" demanded Robert angrily with Ned also looking angry at this news.
"You were in no mood to hear it given your sudden desire to see these two women dead simply for the blood in their veins. Besides, would you have even listened if it had come from me? Your earlier mocking tone upon my arrival made it clear my presence is not welcome in the slightest and I have no reason to side with you in this war. Besides, the only person who deserves to know such information is Ned Stark himself," replied Sub-Zero with Robert growled at him despite knowing it was true to a certain extent.
Many were shocked when the Lin Kuei declared themselves neutral in the war and stating they would only involve themselves in protecting the smallfolk from the far more...darker aspects of the war. How the clan would not take either side in terms of House Targaryen or House Baratheon despite both sides having secretly tried to convince Sub-Zero to have the Lin Kuei support their side.
Not only that, but Robert was quite a vindictive man just like Tywin Lannister with the only real difference being the former did it openly to the one he hated. His time training under Sub-Zero at the Lin Kuei compound had been pointless in his eyes with a few of the things learned there being exceptions. Robert wanted nothing to do with the Lin Kuei Grandmaster and stormed out of there within moments of his time living there being up.
"The only person? She is my future wife!" exclaimed Robert with his fury burning in his eyes.
"The key words being future wife. Meaning she is not your wife yet. And Lyanna is Ned Stark's sister. Family by blood trumps family by marriage," replied Sub-Zero with Robert looking ready to explode at his words.
"Where is my sister?" asked Ned with hope he could find her.
"In Dorne. Held in the Tower of Joy," said Sub-Zero while Ned's eyes widened and now understood one of the reasons the Grandmaster wanted Elia Martell to live.
A trade could be made. Lyanna for Elia and her daughter.
"We could assemble a massive army and attack Dorne. With the Tyrells bending the knee upon the Targaryens losing to us, it would be easy to break the Kingdom for allowing the dragons to steal your love away," remarked Tywin while knowing he just had to poke and prod Robert's rage until it went into a frenzy.
"And add more death to an already high body count. How many bodies are you willing to sacrifice for this cause? How many will follow you until they say enough is enough? The men who fought against the Mad King fought for justice. Not your quest to have Lyanna Stark in your arms. Start such a campaign and they will abandon you. King or not," said Sub-Zero with Robert looking conflicted.
"Listen to Master Liang on this Robert. By giving Elia and Rhaenys to Dorne, we can get Lyanna back faster. Isn't that what you want? If Elia or her daughter are harmed, Dorne may take it out on my sister in retaliation. Do you want my sister suffer and die in Dorne? At the hands of the Dornish?" added Ned while Robert started to calm down.
"No. For once, the fucking Grandmaster here is right. Prepare a carriage for the woman and her daughter. We will arrange an escort to take her to Dorne," said Robert before he went back to sitting on the Iron Throne.
"Lord Stark and I will go with them," added Sub-Zero knowing Ned would want to go in order to get his sister while Sub-Zero wanted to make sure nothing happened to the two women secretly hoping they could get to Dorne alive.
"I can see Ned going. But why you?" asked Robert because Sub-Zero narrowed his eyes at him.
"Because Prince Dorne asked me to bring them home. He sent a message to King Aerys asking for Elia and her children be sent to Dorne for their protection, but the man would not listen. So he requested my aid in smuggling his family here to safety," said Sub-Zero with Robert narrowing his eyes at him.
"One could say, you siding with Prince Doran is as good as siding with Dorne, and the Mad King to a certain extent," commented Tywin with Sub-Zero scoffing.
"Hardly. Prince Doran knew the war was not going well. He feared what would happen to his sister should King's Landing fall. Apparently, his fears were justified. When I arrived, the city was being sacked by Lannister forces, and upon arrival to Elia's chambers...I saw two Lannister men had arrived before myself. The Elia's infant son had been killed with his skull smashed against a wall, Elia's daughter was about to be stabbed by a pig monster of a man, and Elia herself was about to be violated by the mad beast Gregor Clegane. The latter of the two I killed," said Sub-Zero coldly while many in the room were shocked to hear that someone like the Mountain would be dead.
"He was always a mad dog. The Seven Kingdoms is better off without him," commented Jon Arryn while Robert reluctantly nodded since Tywin had told him in a message of the proof of fealty would come with a gift provided by the Mountain.
A gift the man only delivered slightly, which would be enough for now. But Robert knew Tywin always made sure that anything he did, it was to get something back in return. And if you didn't pay him back, the man always found ways to make you pay him back in full plus interest.
Either through coin or through blood.
"Fine! Go with them you bloody ice cunt. But you better pray to the Mother that Lyanna comes back to me alive. If she doesn't...I'll burn your fucking clan home to the ground and kill everyone inside of it," said Robert with a "and I'll do it too" look on his face.
With a simple bow, Sub-Zero guided both women out of the throne with Ned and Stark bannermen around them.
"Do you think this will work?" asked Ned while Sub-Zero glanced in his direction.
"Compared to the alternative? I would hope so," commented Sub-Zero intending to make preparations of his own in the event Lyanna Stark was not alive when they got to Dorne.
(Dorne-Sunspear)
"My beloved sister Elia. And my niece Rhaenys. Praise the Gods you are safe and in my arms," said Doran while hugging them tightly and hearing them crying into his shoulders.
Nearby were Ned Stark, Sub-Zero, and a small contingent of Stark bannermen watching this silently since it was not their place to say anything.
When all the crying and hugging was done, Doran whispered for the women before him to go rest while he spoke to their guests. When they first came, Doran was skeptical due to the banners being from House Stark and therefore supporters of the Usurper. But when one of his men reported Sub-Zero was with them, the Prince knew his sister was safe. He was naturally upset about what happened to his baby nephew before Sub-Zero had been able to arrive in King's Landing, but it subsided when learning the baby's murder had been killed by the Lin Kuei Grandmaster himself.
Though Doran silently vowed to have Armory Lorch killed in the future for his attempt to murder Rhaenys and making his precious niece watch her Mother nearly become violated by Gregor Clegane. Provided his brother Oberyn didn't beat him to it before departing for Essos and the fighting pits.
"You have done Dorne and my House a great service Grandmaster. I am now truly in your debt. Name your heart's desire and if it is within my power to grant it, I will," said Doran while Sub-Zero glanced over at Ned Stark.
"I do not wish to ask you of anything right now Prince Doran. My business in Dorne has not yet been concluded. Lord Stark is here to retrieve his sister. My spy network has been able to determine her whereabouts are here in Dorne. More precisely at the Tower of Joy near the Red Mountains," said Sub-Zero with Doran looking surprised by this.
"I did not know. Granted, there are several means to sneak into the area around the Tower of Joy undetected, but I never thought Prince Rheagar would take her there," said Doran, as he did not expect this from the Prince.
"We need safe passage through Dorne to get to the Tower of Joy. With your permission," said Sub-Zero with Doran nodding.
"Of course. For what you have done for my House, it is a small request," said Doran, as he gave Lord Stark a respectful nod, which the man returned.
"We need to take the fastest route," said Ned respectfully with Doran nodding.
"My brother is scheduled to leave for Essos soon, but I will ask him to guide you to the Tower of Joy. Oberyn knows the best routes throughout Dorne. If anyone can help you get there quickly, it is him," said Doran with Ned Stark nodding.
"Thank you Prince Doran," said Ned Stark with Doran smiling at him.
"We do not hurt little girls or women in Dorne. We consider it a horrible sin no matter the religion. As a man and a brother, I understand your worry for Lyanna Stark. She is your sister and it is only natural you fear for her safety. I know I did for my sister," said Doran with Ned Stark nodding before bowing respectfully to the Prince and left the room with his men.
(Tower of Joy-Sometime Later)
"There it is. The Tower of Joy. It was clever, yet shameful of Prince Rheagar to take and hold Lyanna Stark here of all places," commented Prince Oberyn on his horse while Ned Stark and Sub-Zero frowned on their own with the North bannermen behind them.
"Why?" asked Sub-Zero curiously though he suspected the reason given the name of the place was called "Tower of Joy".
"The Tower of Joy is a place where royal families connected to Dorne have gone once a marriage has happened and where women go to give birth to children. If she is in there and the rumors are true about what Rheagar did, it is a stain on this sacred place," said Prince Oberyn while Ned's face had gone ash white and gripped the reigns of his horse tightly.
"Gods no," whispered Ned with worry.
"We don't know if the rumors are true Lord Stark. Rheagar was many things. A rapist is not one of them," said Sub-Zero while Ned nodded since he had been around Rheagar before when learning under the Grandmaster and was not someone to do such things to a woman.
"The Mad King was said to rape his sister after watching people burn alive. While I have never known Rheagar to be like his Father, the power of madness is a strange thing," said Oberyn while wondering if Elia and both her children had died at King's Landing at the hands of the Mountain and Monster Pig.
It made him wonder what would it do to his own mind?
"She's being guarded," said Sub-Zero with his eyes clearly seeing movement in the form of a pair of knights with one sharpening his sword.
"It is most likely Ser Arthur Dayne. I heard he arrived in Dorne a few months ago, but as to why remained a mystery to my brother," said Oberyn with Ned narrowing his eyes.
"I took Ser Arthur Dayne as a man of honor. What could possess him to do this?" asked Ned while Sub-Zero put a hand on his shoulder.
"We can ask and find out," said Sub-Zero before he moved his horse forward with the group making their way toward the Tower of Joy and seeing Ser Arthur Dayne getting ready for their arrival.
"Grandmaster. Prince Oberyn. Lord Stark," commented Ser Arthur Dayne with respect for the men in front of him.
"Ser Arthur Dayne of Starfall," said Ned Stark politely before glancing at the Tower of Joy.
"You know why we are here," said Sub-Zero while Ser Arthur Dayne nodded.
"I suspected Lord Stark would come. Though you and Prince Oberyn are a surprise," said Ser Arthur Dayne with Ned getting anxious.
"I looked for you on the battlefield at the Trident. Your Prince died there and you failed to protect him," commented Ned while the Sword of Morning ignored the jab.
"Our Prince wanted us here. If we had been at the Trident, it would be Prince Rheagar who would have been victorious over the Usurper," commented Ser Arthur Dayne while Ned nearly reached for his sword, but was stopped by Sub-Zero.
"Where is my sister?" asked Ned with the Sword of Morning looking back at the Tower of Joy slightly.
"She is safe. Resting, but safe," said Ser Arthur Dayne calmly.
"Let me pass. I wish to see her. To take her home," said Ned with the Sword of Morning shaking his head no.
"I cannot. Her health prevents it," said Ser Arthur Dayne while Ned was looking angry.
"Her health is why I am here. If you do not step aside, there will be violence," warned Ned with angry eyes, but before anything could happen, Sub-Zero's grip on his shoulder tightened with the Grandmaster stepping forward.
"Please forgive Lord Stark. He is concerned for his sister. Surely you can understand his concerns," said Sub-Zero while speaking to the Sword of Morning in Mandarin or as just about everyone else in the Seven Kingdoms called it "Lin Kueism".
"I do understand Grandmaster. But Lyanna Stark is bedridden. She cannot leave her bed. The child is nearly ready to be born," said Ser Arthur Dayne back in the same tongue.
"Surely you would not deny a brother the right to see his sister? Everyone believes her to have been raped and violated by the Prince. Only she can tell her brother the truth. Not to mention, help bring the child into the world," said Sub-Zero with Ser Arthur glancing at Ned and Prince Oberyn along with their group of Northern bannermen.
"Not counting Prince Oberyn and yourself, these men served the Usurper. They were an enemy to him and threat to the late Prince Rheagar's legacy," said Ser Arthur with Sub-Zero glancing back at the group behind him.
"Let myself, Ned Stark, and Prince Oberyn pass. We would not endanger Lyanna Stark or the pregnancy. I swear it upon my honor as a member of the Lin Kuei and Grandmaster," said Sub-Zero with Ser Arthur nodding since such things held such weight with him.
"Only you three. The others will stay here. While you would not harm the child, I do not trust the others," said Ser Arthur Dayne with Sub-Zero nodding.
"I understand," said Sub-Zero with Ser Arthur Dayne motioning for the men beside him to stand down.
"We can pass?" asked Ned in a whispered tone.
"Yes. But only the three of us. Ser Arthur Dayne does not trust your men and something tells me the fewer who see your sister now would be for the best," said Sub-Zero with Ned Stark glancing at the Sword of Morning before nodding in agreement.
With that being said, the three walked by Ser Arthur Dayne while Ned ordered his men to stay here and do nothing unless commanded. Making their way to the top of the tower, the trio opened the door to see a pregnant Lyanna Stark surrounded by a large group of Dornish handmaidens. Lyanna was shocked to see Ned, Oberyn, and Sub-Zero there, but could barely say anything due to the fact the baby inside of her was fighting to get out.
"What madness is this?" whispered Ned, as he feared the worst had happened with the pregnancy here practically confirming it.
"Ned, its not what you think," pleaded Lyanna with Ned not understanding.
"What do you mean? You are pregnant. Pregnant with the man who violated you! How can you be on this bed and not understand?" asked Ned while walking over to the bed and kneeled so he was eyelevel with her.
"Because he didn't violate me Ned. I wasn't raped by Rheagar," said Lyanna before she winced when feeling the baby within her kicking madly.
"And yet you are pregnant," countered Ned while Prince Oberyn had been silent during this conversation up until this point.
"And unless the Gods changed the rules, a man and a woman have to be together to make a baby in her womb," commented Prince Oberyn while Ned winced since the image of Lyanna and Rheagar appeared in his head.
"And we did lay together. We were together, but not against my will. I was not kidnapped or raped as you were no doubt led to believe Ned. That was a lie based on rumors and the speculation of others. Rheagar came to me and I left with him willingly. This baby inside of me is not one conceived through rape, but through love. I loved and still do love Prince Rheagar with the child as the proof," replied Lyanna with Ned looking like someone had told him that the White Walkers were innocent creatures instead of the terrors man.
"But you were promised to Robert and Robert loves you. He went and started a war for you!" stated Ned with Lyanna shaking her head.
"Robert was a brute Ned. He drank, hunted, and whored all his life. He waged a war for the image I created in his mind. He saw the image of a wild woman he would see as a challenge. A wild woman he can try his hand at taming or controlling. That is the kind of woman Robert wanted. I wanted to be with a man who wouldn't do that to me. Rheagar even went so far to annul his marriage to Elia Martell and married me in secret," said Lyanna while Ned looked shocked and so did Prince Oberyn since he didn't know about the annulment and suspected that neither did his brother Doran.
"Meaning the child you carry is now next in line to the Iron Throne. If the child is a boy," said Sub-Zero with Lyanna nodding.
"Please Ned, you need to keep this a secret. All of you have to keep this a secret. And not just from Robert, but Tywin Lannister. If either of them knew the truth, Robert or Tywin would kill the child. I know they will!" exclaimed Lyanna when she felt the child wanted out and wanted out now.
Something Sub-Zero clearly saw the signs of happening given her current state.
"She's going into labor. We need to act fast," said Sub-Zero while moving around to get what they needed to ensure the pregnancy happened correctly with Oberyn assisting him.
"I don't know if I can keep this a secret from Robert. How would I keep it a secret? He is my sworn brother Lyanna. I cannot betray him. Even more so now that Robert is the new King of the Seven Kingdoms," said Ned while Lyanna shook his head.
"You need to find a way Ned. Or Robert will rip the Seven Kingdoms apart out of spite after he kills the baby. You know he will do it. I know it. Even the Grandmaster knows it to be true. Please Ned. Promise me you will protect my son. Promise me!" exclaimed Lyanna before she cried out in pain.
"I promise Lyanna. I promise. I don't know how, but I promise the child will come to no harm so long as I live," said Ned while Lyanna cried with joy.
"So long as we live Lord Stark. And if we can pull this off, Robert will none the wiser of what happened here today," said Sub-Zero while he along with Prince Oberyn were now coordinating their efforts with the group of Dornish handmaidens to ensure this wouldn't become complicated.
(Tower of Joy-Short Time Later)
The cry of a child rang out through the Tower of Joy. Throughout all of Dorne. It was the sound of new life being brought into the world. With the witnesses to the event being a group of Dornish handmaidens, a Prince of Doran, a Lord of a noble House, and a Lin Kuei Grandmaster. Each of them had assisted, in one way or another, the birth of Lyanna Stark's child with the birth being a complete success. There had been one close call with the blood loss Lyanna had endured when the child was born, but Sub-Zero had used a small fraction of his freezing powers to slow down the blood loss and allow for Lyanna's body to clot the blood naturally.
Had he not been there or arrived later with Ned Stark, the Lin Kuei Grandmaster had no doubt the woman before him would have been died brining the child into the world. Now the question remained, how did they keep this a secret from certain people who would not allow the truth to come out or let the proof of it live past tomorrow?
"My son. My little Aegon," commented Lyanna with a smile on her face while she held the child close.
All the while, the three men in the room had decided to speak privately about this issue.
"Now comes the hard part. Finding out how to deceive an angry Baratheon and prevent him from killing an innocent child," said Sub-Zero with Prince Oberyn thinking and Ned Stark looking worried.
"He can't stay in Dorne. It would be too suspicious and it would put House Martell at risk with everything that has happened," said Ned while Prince Oberyn nodded in agreement.
"I agree. Beside, Lady Lyanna would want to raise her child. To separate a child from their Mother is another sin we do not tolerate in Dorne. Even if we could take them in, the fallout would cause untold problems for us with Rheagar's enemies itching to end his bloodline no matter the cost," said Prince Oberyn while glancing over at Lyanna holding her child and cooing.
"She needs to return home to the North with the child," said Sub-Zero at last.
"But that would risk exposure," protested Ned while Sub-Zero walked over to the nearby window.
"Exposure is going to happen one way or the other Lord Stark. We must use this moment in time to control the perception of that exposure when we return to the others," said Sub-Zero with Ned looking confused while Oberyn had an idea of what he was referring to about this.
"I don't understand," said Ned while Sub-Zero sighed.
"Remember back to my earlier teachings Lord Stark. When you and your brother were studying under me with the others. Right now, people outside these tower walls believe Lyanna Stark was raped by Rheagar repeatedly. As far as the Seven Kingdoms knows about this, no such child was born from the rumor. And that is what we must allow to continue being considered a fact. As for Lyanna herself, she cannot go back to Robert since it would not be an ideal marriage despite what Robert thinks to the contrary," said Sub-Zero with Ned slowly nodding.
"We must protect the truth by allowing the lie to live and grow," commented Oberyn with Sub-Zero nodding.
"Yes. Which is why my plan must be followed to the letter. You must trust me here Lord Stark, for it is the only way you can protect your sister and her newborn son from certain death," said Sub-Zero with Ned looking over at Lyanna.
"For my sister, I would fight an army White Walkers," said Ned with Sub-Zero nodding and Prince Oberyn smirking.
"You are a good man Lord Stark. It is a shame that you are already married. One of my cousins would be perfect for you," said Prince Oberyn with a chuckle.
"My wife is a Tully woman Prince Oberyn. I do not have to tell you how dangerous they can be when angered," said Ned with Prince Oberyn letting out a chuckle.
"No. I don't. Which is why I pray your marriage is a good one," said Prince Oberyn with a smile before things became serious again.
"What is the plan?" asked Ned with Sub-Zero laying it out in detail for the two men with Lyanna listening in the background just in case.
"Do you think it will work?" asked Prince Oberyn curiously.
"It will work Prince Oberyn. The very lie made through the rumors of what happened to Lyanna will lay the foundation from which we can build on. You will be in Essos soon so no one will have a chance to question you about the truth. Lord Stark will return to the North to be its Warden and I will be running the Lin Kuei there after moving the clan home away from King's Landing. The new King didn't exactly appreciate me being there and neither did Lord Tywin. I do not want to risk either man plotting to destroy my clan when I am making descent strides to rebuilding it," said Sub-Zero with both men nodding since they knew Robert and Tywin would do something like that in some way.
"So Lyanna returns to the North and considered to be too 'damaged' due to the past rape done by Rheagar and as such, she cannot have children," said Ned knowing it was the only way to keep Robert from marrying her.
"Yes. Not only that, but the 'trauma' behind it will make her seem reclusive. Wishing to stay in the North where it is safe. As for the child, you will have to deal with the anger your wife will feel from your end of things Lord Stark," said Sub-Zero while Ned sighed since his part of plan had been altered from0 the original one the Grandmaster proposed.
Aegon would be known as Jon Snow and would not be considered Lyanna's child, much to her displeasure, but rather Ned Stark's bastard son. Again, Lyanna did not like that idea in the slightest since bastards were not well liked by anyone of high standing. Even less so when the bastard belonged to a prestigious House. Sub-Zero originally proposed that he take Aegon into the clan to raise as one who would live a life within the Lin Kuei and be an orphan found to be raised by the Grandmaster. But Ned Stark felt it would be too dangerous and with the Grandmaster's various enemies within the Seven Kingdoms, it would put a target on the boy's back. Surprisingly Prince Oberyn agreed with Ned Stark on this. While it was no one cared about bastards and looked down on them, if the boy was Ned Stark's proclaimed bastard, no one would do anything or care about the boy to the extent of hurting him.
However, Sub-Zero stated that he would still be training the boy in the ways of the Lin Kuei in order to one day become a true member when old enough. Not only that, but the Grandmaster stressed upon Ned that one day, he would have to tell his wife the truth about the boy since she would not be so kind when it came to young Aegon's well being. Ned agreed, but it was clear to the other two men he would be stubborn about it, and most likely drag his feet on the issue.
Eventually, the boy would grow up under the guidance of House Stark with his Mother there to love him, and Ned would arrange for Lyanna to "adopt" the boy to help her deal with the "trauma" of the past. In the following years when the boy grew up to be a man, Ned would petition his "son" be legitimized as a Stark, regardless if his wife approved or not, and make sure his actual children cared about Aegon regardless of the status forced upon him.
The trick was to make it work without anyone causing too many issues along the way, but Sub-Zero believed they could pull it off. With a little luck, patience, and maybe a prayer or two to the Gods above for good measure.
(A/N: YAY! And thus the Game of Thrones is changed forever! Lyanna is not dead and while Aegon will become Jon Snow, it won't be too bad. And with Sub-Zero in the mix, you know things won't happen exactly like it did in the show. In what way? I won't say so its best you wait and find out. Until next time...PEACE!)
