"What madness has fallen on you to think of doing something like that?" I all but shouted, barely holding back the anger which would definitely release the thunder that I still don't have much control over when Mjolnir is not around.
"I don't talk in air, Thor. I have proof. Queen's children are all bastards. They are..." Ned Stark replied with a calm but authoritative tone and was continuing when I interrupted him.
"Odin's beard, not that! I couldn't care less about whose children those are. I'm talking about why in the Nine Realms you told that to the queen," I asked with exasperation in my tone. I knew I was losing my cool, but this idiot wolf was testing my patience now.
"It was the right thing to do. Those children—bastards they may be—are innocent. If I had told this to Robert, he would have had their heads. The only way to protect those children was to have the queen get them out of King's Landing before Robert returns," Ned replied.
"And what about your children? Just see what happened to your friend—he's dead instead of the queen and her children. Don't you think your estimations are not on point?" I chided, trying to show this fool some light.
"Robert's death has nothing to do with this." Ned Stark replied with a frown—maybe he didn't like how I was talking to the high and mighty Eddard Stark, the Warden of the North.
"I considered you a wise man, Lord Stark, but even an idiot would have seen the signs which you in your high moral ground ignored. You tell the queen about her adultery and the next thing the king dies. Don't you see any connection?"
At this, Ned shut his mouth, which was definitely about to open and shout something about honour.
"After the king is dead, who do you think would stop her from doing whatever she pleases? She holds all the power. Do you think that she'll let someone who knows her secret—which could take everything away from her—live?" I didn't give him time to think and asked again.
"She doesn't have power yet. The next king is yet to be crowned, and that's why I must go to the throne room with the king's will. With Robert's will to announce the rightful successor of the throne." Ned didn't even bat an eye and showed me a paper he was holding.
"You think a piece of paper can stop her from what she wants? That piece of paper holds no power, Ned... men with swords hold the power. You'll be walking in the lion's den if you go there." I shouted this time, trying to show this man reason, but his look told me everything. He wasn't gonna listen to me.
Honourable Fool.
"I can't let a bastard sit on the Iron Throne. It's my duty to the Seven Kingdoms and Hand of the King that I see justice done."
"Fuck the Seven Kingdoms. First look for your own, would you? I showed you what's beyond the Wall and here you are meddling with politics that the North has no say in, and wars to come that the North has no part in. What about your duty to the North and its people?"
This shut him up for a few seconds before he finally opened his mouth. "My honor will not sit by and let a bastard take my friend's throne. The rightful king after Robert, in the absence of a legitimate heir, is Stannis. I owe him my sword and my loyalty."
Ah, there it is. That's the reason I didn't bring Mjolnir with me or I was sure Winterfell would be one Stark less in no time. I have seen enough to believe in my temper like I used to. One of the few downsides of being Thor—this impulse to solve everything with swinging my hammer.
Part of me just wished to give up, the stubborn man won't listen, I knew it.
But I recalled the faces of those two little girls and just can't help it. Losing their father, a war would break out as soon as this idiot dies here.
So, I went out of my way to consult him, preventing him from doing the same mistake he did in the show.
Yes, he was paying me but that was only to guard his daughters and help him out in the capital somewhat; I had no obligation to help him out in this political disaster he was jumping in.
But, I still did it cause I didn't wished those two girls who I come to accept as my own little sister by now, to be sad.
But, not anymore. Even I can't prevent a man from dying who is looking for death.
"Have it your way then. I'll have no part in a fool's errand." I spat out in anger.
"Agree..." Ned nodded far too willingly to this for some reason.
"Pardon?"
"You can't come with me to the throne room. You will escort my daughters back to Winterfell." Ned said with firm eyes.
"And pray tell, Lord Stark, why should I do anything you ask of me?" I sent a glare at him.
"I'm not asking you as the Lord of Winterfell and the Warden of the North. But as a father. If there exists one man who I could believe in King's Landing to have the ability and character to keep my daughters safe, then it's you, Ser Thor."
"I'm not a ser..."
"But you are. Robert made you one, and now I ask—nay, request—you to do what a knight does. Just take my children back home safe. That's all I wish," Ned Stark said with a slightly softer tone at the end.
I just kept on looking at him with irritation building up. This man was infuriating. Honourable and just, but by the All-Father's beard, so fucking infuriating.
Things are happening way too quickly for my liking. Starks were in King's Landing for almost nine or so months before Ned Stark died—if Daenerys marrying Khal Drogo, getting pregnant, and almost giving birth was any indication according to the series.
And what about here? Not even the second month has started and we are on the verge of starting a war between the Crown and the North. If Robb Stark is anything like what he was in the show, then things are gonna be bad soon if Ned Stark dies here.
"Thor... Do I have your word." Ned Stark Asked again.
Now this was borderline blackmail.
I don't have any other choice but to take her daugthers back to winterfell.
'...Well, I actually have options like leaving everything behind but I don't want to. Those two little girls, spending time with them, I came to treat them as little sister at this point.
I don't care about Stark, if he has a death wish then he can be my guest but Sansa and Arya. I don't want those two little girls to suffer.
Sigh...
I had plans to move East to Essos to see dragons to fly for the first time in centuries in this world. Traveling and enjoying a bit.
However, now I have to secure the two little wolf cubs before Stark brings down the entirety of King's Landing, calling for his head and his daughters.
"Maybe a little visit to Lord Varys is in order."
...
[North]
The Wall loomed ahead, a white giant stretching into the sky. Bran's eyes widened, awe shining on his face. "It's even bigger than I dreamed," he whispered.
Sandor snorted, tugging the reins of the horse. "Seven bloody hells with you dreams… I should be drinking in some warm hall, not dragging a boy to the arse-end of the world."
Bran smiled faintly, ignoring the insult. "It's beautiful."
Sandor spat into the snow. "You could admire it beauty better when you start falling from up there."
Bran just shut his mouth, it was better to stay quiet.
xxx
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