10th Month of 283 A.C. Highgarden
Eddard Stark
The sight of that man covered in blood, Dawn at his throat, and his nephew in Wylla's arms crying, had left a firm imprint in his mind. The words the assassin had uttered had shocked him to his core. All of his father's arguments had been proven true in those two words, Robert, his friend, his oldest friend Robert, had sent a man after Jon to kill him. It was something he had a hard time comprehending and understanding, just how far his friend had fallen shocked him to his very core. The thoughts that were whirling around inside his head confused and frightened him, he wanted them gone, and he wanted the world to be plain and simple, yet as his father kept on saying nothing was ever plain and simple anymore. Gods this was too confusing, he supposed that was why he had sought his father out.
Rickard Stark was stood on the battlements of Highgarden looking out towards the Mander, when Ned approached him and asked softly. "Father?" his father turned round as if knowing what he was going to ask, but still waiting for him to ask. "I was wondering if we could speak of what has happened in recent times. For there is much that I have thought and much that has been troubling me."
His father looks at him as if sizing him up, and then responds. "Very well, what do you wish to speak of son? The fact that your nephew was very nearly killed by a man sent by Robert Baratheon, a man whose own bloodlust it seems has not been sated or cooled. Or the fact that you might still side with the man because of your damned honour."
Ned straightens up and asks. "I want to know how we can be sure that it was Robert who sent that man after Jonothor. After all apart from those who have seen Jonothor, and been told about him, no one else has actually seen him or spoken a word of him beyond what you have asked of them. How in the name of the old gods, could Robert know about him? When it seems that even the eunuch did not know where Prince Rhaegar had been for the duration of the war and before?"
It is a solid argument he thinks and yet his father looks at him as if he has grown a second head for his response is simple. "Someone always tells. And that eunuch is the master of whispers, and does not get his reputation for being a fool. He would have known."
Ned is stumped by this, it is true enough. The man had seemed very slimy and untrustworthy when he had met him in King's Landing, still he will fight for his friend if he has to. "But then, who amongst us would tell? Whom amongst the northern lords would betray us to Robert? None, they are too loyal to you, too afraid of you to break their promise of secrecy. The Dornishmen hold no love for us yes, but they did not join the cause until just before the attempt. And besides it was Prince Oberyn who spoke of the Lannister bastards, why would he do that unless he was the one who was employing them?"
His father merely looks at him and then responds. "Oberyn Martell might have wanted to do many things to Prince Rhaegar and to your sister for the harm they did his own sister, but he wants revenge for Princess Elia more than he hungers for doing some sort of messed up honour killing. The man would have no true reason for warning us if he was the one planning the attempt. Robert Baratheon is working alongside the Lannisters whether you wish to acknowledge it or not Ned. It is the simple truth. The man you knew is dead."
Ned sighs then and says. "You are determined to ensure that there is more war then? You do not wish for a peaceful solution. All to ensure someone of your blood sits the throne."
His father laughs then and responds. "Ah Ned, you are still so unsure of the world. How can that be, when you have fought in war and seen the horrors that it presents. Robert Baratheon is not the man that he once was. He is a man tainted by the crown he wears, and the whisperings of a viper known as Tywin Lannister. That the man and Robert Baratheon were working on seeing him married to Cersei Lannister before Lyanna's body was even cold shows just how much regard they truly hold for us and for your sister."
Ned is most definitely torn by this, and he uses the last argument he has to try and sway his father. "What about Lyanna, father? She asked you to protect Jonothor, is this truly the best way to go about protecting him? I do not think so, keeping him in Winterfell is the best way to ensure he is safe. Not on some throne in the south, mother herself would prefer her grandson raised in the north."
His father looks at him with cold eyes then and says. "If you continue to use this argument I will seriously reconsider whether or not you shall return north with me when this is all done. Regardless, I will say this once more, your sister wanted her son protected, the best way to protect him is not to hide him and constantly look to see if he is going to be hunted down. It is to see him sat on the throne, that is his by right, and to see his enemies brought down. Your friend is his enemy now, and I will let nothing stand between my grandson and the throne. Now where do you stand son. Will you go with the family, or with the man who is no longer who he once was?"
A long moment of silence follows his father's question, as Ned debates everything inside his head. He feels as though he is being torn in two, the need to remain loyal to Robert as honour dictates, as they all did, and the fact that Jonothor is his family, the last link he has to Lyanna, his nephew whom Robert tried to have killed. He sees Lyanna as she was last, smiling and happy, and then as a lifeless corpse, and then he sees Robert as he was when last Ned saw him, frothing at the mouth screaming for blood and for the death of innocents. And though he feels as if he is literally going against all he stands for he gets down on one knee in front of his father, with the wind blowing, and the Mander in sight. He speaks loudly and says. "I will side with my family, no matter how much it might pain me, and Robert has shown himself to be against the code with which we were raised. Family, is what I fought this war for, and it is family with which I now swear myself to. I will fight to see King Jonothor Targaryen on the throne, I will do what must be done, for without family we are nothing." Forgive me Robert, he thinks as he stands then.
His father seems please by that he has done. "Good, now that, that is out of the way, you may return inside. But before you do, I must ask you, do you wish to return to Riverrun to see your wife and child, and perhaps return home? It might make things easier for you."
Ned considers this, a flash of red hair and a child's laugh, how he longs to see that. It would not be right however, when there is work still to be done. It is with a heavy heart that he says. "I will remain with you father, I owe it to myself and to Robert to stay and see this through to the end."
His father nods, and it seems that there is a hint of pride in his eyes. "Very well then. You may return inside son. I will be inside soon enough."
Ned nods, turns around and heads back in, where he bumps into Howland Reed, his old friend who always seems to be around. "Howland, I see you have managed to find me. Are you interested in continuing our conversation from this morning?"
His friend nods and says. "I am very interested, to hear what your views are on the whole situation of Jonothor the Giant, considering the fact that there were bones found near Last Hearth some time before the rebellion began that might be his."
Ned sighs at this. "Bones, bones are being found everywhere nowadays. But we do not have any method of trying to prove that they are his, without solid proof I cannot truly agree that this is who they claim he is. I remain sceptical."
His friend smiles somewhat and responds. "And what about those dreams you have been having. I know you have been having them Ned, it is writ over your face whenever you have that furrowed look on your face. The dreams of the horned people and the giants. You know there might well be a power there that might be of use in the times to come."
Ned shakes his head. "I refuse to believe in something that cannot be proven before my own eyes. I am sorry Howland but this is something that we shall have to agree to disagree on."
His friend merely nods and says. "Very well, my friend. But if you ever feel the need to discuss this again, I am always willing to."
Ned nods and then they begin walking towards the great hall, upon entering the hall they see all the lords gathered to witness what his father has planned. Lords Tyrell, Rowan, Tarly, Redwyne, Fossoway and Hightower as well as their various bannermen are all gathered in the hall. From the north, there are Lords Umber, Dustin, Manderly, Bolton, Ryswell, Cerwyn, Karstark and Hornwood as well as their bannermen. The Florents and others had refused to come to Highgarden for this ceremony, and it seems they are planning something else, something more 'honourable' than that, as their letter had put it. The Lords of Dorne, are there as well, Prince Oberyn, Lord Dayne, Lord Blackmont, Lord Manwoody, Lady Fowler and Lord Toland gathered together preparing what is to come.
The murmuring in the hall comes to an end as his father walks in and says loudly. "My lords and ladies, I thank you all for coming to the hall tonight, we are here to formally declare our allegiance to the true King of Westeros, Jonothor Targaryen. We have all agreed to fight to put him on the throne and to do all that is necessary to see him sit the throne that is his by rights. Does anyone have any objections to this?"
There is silence, no objections then it would seem. Ned is very nervous as his father calls for Jonothor to be brought in, his nephew is dressed in a black and red doublet that looks too big for his body. His nephew is wide awake his eyes staring around wide, innocent taking it all in, Ned feels reassured that he has made the right choice when he looks at his nephew and thinks of how Robert would see him dead. The Kingsguard led by Ser Gerold stand in front of Wylla and his nephew, leading them to the Oakenseat, where Wylla places the babe in Ned's father's arms. Lord Rickard sits on the Oakenseat, as the Kingsguard stand at the foot of the throne.
Ned now knowing this is his cue, walks up to the foot of the throne, the Kingsguard move to the side, Ned gets down on bended knee and says aloud. "I Eddard of the House Stark, in the name of House Stark do so hereby swear our eternal allegiance to you King Jonothor Targaryen, the rightful King of Westeros. We do foreswear any allegiance to the usurper Robert Baratheon and his heirs." Ned stands and walks to the side.
Other lords and ladies get down on bended knee then and repeat the oath that he himself had just said. Once that is done, the lords stand and Ned's father hands King Jonothor back to Wylla, and says loudly. "My lords and ladies. Today we have made a bold move, and soon enough it will come time to defend our oath and defend our king. I know everyone here is prepared to do just that. Let us get some rest, and in the morning we shall prepare for the next act in this defiance of a Tyrant." There are loud cheers then, and Ned knows there will be a feast, and a celebration, but right now he is not in the mood for such things so as quietly as he can he slips from the Great Hall and makes his way back to his own room.
When he returns to his room, he wonders what had happened to that woman, Myrcella Waters she said her name was, he had met her in the sparring yard the day Prince Oberyn and his army had come. She had enchanted him somewhat, but she had disappeared, and he wondered why that was. He wondered, and wondered, and then his thoughts turned to his wife Catelyn and their son Robb in Riverrun and the guilt began eating at him. Gods he needed to get his head straight. He tries to catch some sleep, but it is no good, meaningless, twisting and turning. Unable to get his head straight, red hair, brown hair, all of it mingling together and ghastly eyes staring at him, skin rotting, and a woman with a stoneheart in her chest staring at him, a red slit across her throat. He awakes with a start, the sun has gone down by the time has woken up, he splashes some water on his face, and asks for some hot water to be prepared and once it is he washes himself and gets himself presentable for the events of that evening.
The feast, is forgettable, he does not truly focus all he wants to do is leave and go to bed. The day has been draining to say the least. He does not know who it is he is dancing with, all he knows is he wishes to go to bed and soon. Eventually the dancing does end, and he hurries out of the hall to bed. The night is easier than the day, he sleeps well, but as day comes, the light and easiness of the night, the day brings a new set of problems though. The man who attempted to kill Jonothor, is dragged before the lords and ladies in the Great Hall of Highgarden, and Ser Gerold Hightower's voice booms forth. "Ser Tybolt Waters, you are here today to face the punishment due to you for trying to kill King Jonothor Targaryen. You will be executed for this crime. Do you have anything to say?"
The bastard knight merely laughs and says. "If you think this is the end of it all, you have no idea. There is more happening then you know. Dragons will dance once again. Kill me, but the tide of blood has begun."
The man is shoved to his knees his neck bare in invitation. His father, draws Ice from its sheath and says in a commanding voice. "I Rickard, of the House Stark, do hereby announce your death for treason, in the name of Jonothor Targaryen, King of Westeros." He raises his sword and in one clean motion removes the man's head from his body. Ned sees his father pick the head up and roar. "Let it be known that treason will not go unpunished under the king's reign. All hail the King!
The crowd take up the chant, and Ned feels something in his stomach churn, he closes his eyes briefly and when he opens them again he swears he sees a man with a goat's head staring at him.