Aemon the Dragonwolf
The Tower of Joy: 283 AC:
Arthur looked up to the sky as he sharpened Dawn with a stone. He hadn't heard a word from anyone about how his Prince had fared at the Trident and he began to worry that his best friend had faltered at the hands of the rebels. Beside him sat Ser Oswell Whent and Ser Gerold Hightower, two of the finest knights he had ever known. All three men not making a noise lest for the occasional screams that came from the tower behind them.
"Will she be alright?" Arthur asked both men, the worry clear on his face.
"Be calm, Arthur. The Prince will be born without hindrance, I am sure of it." Gerold assured as he stood up and walked to the cliff edge. "Prepare yourselves, riders approach!" He yelled back at his two Kingsguard.
"Come Arthur, let us see to our duty." Oswell smiled as he stood up and grabbed his helm, Arthur doing the same.
As all three men walked together to the open ground before the tower, the sound of hooves becoming louder until in front of them rode six men, all bearing the sigil of House Stark. Stopping just before Eddard Stark and his men, Arthur drove Dawn into the ground before them as they dismounted their horses. He looked at the men in front of him, their appearance here and not his Princes meaning that his worst fears had come true. That Rhaegar had fallen. Arthur pushed that to that back of his mind as he still had a duty to perform. If he could not protect Rhaegar, he would will certainly avenge him. The men stood silently for a moment more, perhaps unsure of what to say to one another before Arthur spoke up.
"Lord Stark." He spat, his disdain showing.
"I looked for you all on the Trident." Eddard said almost boastfully.
"But we weren't there." Gerold interrupted.
"Your friend, the usurper, would lie beneath the ground if we had been." Oswell growled.
Eddard looked at both men in surprise. The fact that they were still willing to defend the Targaryens after all they had done astonished him. "The Mad King is dead. Rhaegar lies beneath the ground. Why weren't you there to protect your Prince?" He taunted as if he was questioning their honor.
"Our Prince wanted us here." Arthur retorted.
Eddard looked up toward the tower and back towards Arthur, his hand on his sword tightening. "Where's my Sister?"
Arthur sighed and smirked before all three Kingsguard began to put their helms on. Eddard's face seemed to drop at the thought of having to fight three of the fiercest knights the Realm had ever seen. "I wish you good fortune in the wars to come." Arthur said before his face turned much colder. "And now it begins."
All at once the three knights drew their swords, Arthur wielding both Dawn and a regular sword. Eddard felt the uncertain shuffle of his men behind him, the fear of fighting the knights becoming too much for them. He looked back at his men and gave them a reassuring look to calm their nerves and then turned back towards the Kingsguard in front of him. "No. Now it ends." He snarled as he drew Ice from it's sheath, his men following his example.
The first man to come at him was Howland Reed, who Arthur quickly dispatched with a cut across his chest, dropping the Lord of the Neck to the ground. Taking a step backwards he noticed Oswell drive his sword through the stomach of one of the Stark men, killing him instantly. Arthur then engaged with Eddard Stark, hoping to kill him quickly so his men would lose hope. He was good though. A much better swordsman than a Lord of his age should be. Rather then take him now, Arthur threw him to his side as he began to engage with another man of Starks. He easily disarmed the man and drove Dawn deep into his chest. Behind him however, he saw Eddard drive his sword through the neck of Oswell, his blood curdling scream enough to let him know his friend had died. To his left, Gerold was busy fighting two of the Stark men before he too was cut down with a sword through his back and leg.
"Cowards." Arthur thought.
Arthur now stood alone surrounded by Eddard Stark and two of his remaining men. Not bad odds in Arthurs opinion. Holding both of his swords out to either side of him, Arthur dared any of the men to attack him first, lest they wished to see the Father quicker than they would like. All three men attacked him at the same time as Arthur dropped to his knees and blocked their attacks. Backing away he was parrying everything that came his way until he saw one of the men drop his guard and allowed Arthur an opening to slash his neck, the blood pouring out of him as if he were a fountain. Taking a deep breath, Arthur readied himself for the next assault, which came from both Eddard and his remaining man. They fought for some time on equal footing before Eddard clumsily allowed himself to be tripped by Arthur which allowed him to disarm his last man and drive Dawn deep into his chest, the life leaving his face in moments. He turned to face Lord Eddard as he struggled to stand, the fight exerting his energy.
"Get up, Lord Stark." Arthur spat, his breathing heavy.
Eddard struggled to his feet, using Ice as a crutch. He looked around at the men who lay dead, men he had known all his life and were some of the best fighters he could muster. Was Arthur truly this good? Was this to be his end?. The thoughts came to him as he stood up. He then focused his thoughts on his sister and what he must do. He would be damned if he lost anymore family to the Dragons. "Come then, Sword of the Morning." Eddard smirked, pointing Ice at Arthur.
Arthur gladly accepted the challenge from Eddard, his thoughts focused on avenging his fallen brothers. The two men then clashed swords, the sound of Valyrian steel on Valyrian steel reverberating in the Dornish air. Eddard attempted to sweep the legs of Arthur to no avail as the man was just to strong for him to do so. Noticing this, Arthur struck Eddard across his face the pommel of his off hand sword, the strike forcing Eddard back in a daze. Quickly, Arthur aimed a strike at Eddard's neck which he blocked but it allowed Arthur the opening to cut at the mans legs with Dawn. Eddard fell to his knees as the strike left his legs nearly useless, Ice fell to the ground next to him. Arthur kicked Ice away from Eddard, not taking any chances.
"You chose the wrong side, my Lord." Arthur breathed as he aimed both of his swords at Eddard's chest.
"The war is over, Arthur. Your Prince is dead." Eddard sighed.
"Is he." Hinted Arthur as he drove his swords deep into the chest of Eddard Stark. He watched as the life drained from his face. A fitting end for the friend of a would be usurper. Arthur then sheathed his swords, placing Dawn on his back. He removed his helm and looked at the carnage that lay around him. His two fellow Kingsguard lifeless bodies standing out the most to him. They had both achieved the highest honor any of them could have hoped for, to die protecting their Prince. Arthur began to move the bodies for burial before hearing the screams once more. Rushing inside the tower and shoving anyone out of the way, he arrived at the bedchamber which held his Princess. The blood was everywhere, on the bed, on the floor and even on the walls. On the bed, lay Lyanna Stark with her midwife looking over her. In her hands she held a tiny bundle of cloth, with a baby inside.
"Arthur?" Lyanna said wearily, her face a sickly pale.
"Yes, Princess?" Arthur said, moving to her bed side.
"Where is my brother?"
Arthurs face grew sad as if he did not want to tell her the truth. "He fell, Princess...I'm sorry."
Lyanna looked distraught at the news but she had no more energy to cry as her life was fading faster than she hoped. "My son, Arthur. His name is Aemon. You have to promise me that you'll care for him Arthur." She pleaded, passing the baby to her knight.
"With my life, Princess. I promise."
At his word the fear seemed to leave her eyes as she closed them, her last breath one of relief. Arthur looked at the baby in his arms. The last hope of all he held dear now rested on his shoulders and should he fail then the greatest dynasty known to man would be gone. No. He will not fail. He could not fail. Looking to the midwife he asked her to bring whatever he would need to care for the baby to him. As she did, he removed his Kingsguard armor and left it in the tower, a grim reminder for whoever came to this place. He left the baby in the care of the midwife for a few moments whilst she prepared him for travel as he gathered what remained of the Targaryen household guard in the ground outside of the tower. Looking at all four of the men he told them to remove their armour and any symbol of House Targaryen. If what Eddard had told him was true and the Mad King was dead, he didn't want to take the risk of being apprehended immediately for being a loyalist. Once the men did as they were told, they set about burying the bodies including that of Lyanna Stark. Arthur took the time to bury Ice with Eddard, something he felt he deserved at the least. All five men then held a silent vigil over their lost Princess and Kingsguard.
Moving back into the tower, Arthur told the men to grab whatever supplies they could find and to ready the horses outside for a long journey. Arthur then convinced the midwife to travel with them as none of the men had experience caring for a baby, let alone a new born. Once outside all six of them mounted their horses, some of the guards taking the horses from the fallen Stark men. The baby still in the arms of the Midwife, was wrapped in heavy cloths as to protect him from the sun. Something that Arthur was grateful for.
"Where are we to go, Ser?" One of the guards asked him before they left.
"We could go to Dragonstone, Ser Arthur. There may still be loyalists on the island." Another said.
"We can't take that risk." Arthur replied and after thinking for a moment he had a solution. "Essos...we must go to Essos. We can go from Sunspear. House Martell is loyal to the crown. We can take a ship from there."
They all nodded in agreement and set out on the journey to Sunspear in the hopes of protecting the last known scion of House Targaryen. As they travelled, Arthur promised himself he would not fail his new Prince like he had Rhaegar. For he would see the house of the dragon rise again. Even if it meant the last drop of his blood.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who's read this. Just an idea I got from playing the agot mod for ck3 and i thought it would make a compelling story. I'll try an update this one once every couple of days if i can or whenever i feel more inspired to write. Many thanks.