Jon Arryn's letter left Ned frozen in place.
His sister was not dead.
Lyanna was alive.
Ned clenched the letter tightly in his fist, drawing deep breaths of icy air into his lungs.
In many ways, the War of the Usurper had begun with Stark blood.
Ned hated that war.
Once his emotions settled, he was able to understand his foster father's intentions.
Compared to Robert, Arryn trusted Ned's self-control far more. If Robert learned the truth, he might very well abandon everything and sail straight for Gohor.
Arryn knew that the news of Lyanna's survival was almost certainly released deliberately by the Targaryens.
They would likely name their price later, demanding concessions from House Baratheon and House Stark alike.
That was why Arryn had not only informed Ned of Lyanna's situation, but also explicitly ordered him to keep the matter from Robert's ears, at least until Balon's rebellion was crushed.
Understanding the care behind his foster father's decision, Ned gathered himself and prepared to return to Robert's side.
As he approached his guards, Ned suddenly heard hushed voices. They seemed to be whispering about something.
His expression hardened.
"Jory," Ned asked calmly, "what are you discussing?"
Jory was the captain of Ned's household guard and his most trusted subordinate.
When Ned had married Catelyn a year earlier, Jory had been among those who joined in the rowdy celebrations.
"N-nothing, my lord."
Jory met Ned's wolf-gray eyes and felt his tongue go numb, refusing to obey him.
Ned said nothing. He simply stared.
Jory did not last even a heartbeat before breaking.
"We… we heard that Lady Lyanna might still be alive. I was trying to confirm it first before telling you, my lord."
Jory's family was a minor noble house in Winterfell's service. His loyalty was beyond question.
He wanted desperately to bring Ned good news, but feared raising false hope.
At those words, Ned went completely still.
So until just moments ago, the only people in the entire camp who did not know whether Lyanna was alive were himself and Robert.
Her brother. Her betrothed.
What kind of cruel joke was that?
For a moment, Ned did not know what expression he should wear. Fortunately, his face was usually unreadable.
Then his heart gave a sharp twist.
This was Viserys's scheme.
Ned mounted his horse at once and rode hard back toward the camp. Jory and the others followed close behind.
He could not tell if it was his imagination, but some soldiers seemed to look at him strangely as he passed.
"Hyah!"
Ned urged his horse faster. When he reached Robert's tent and learned that his friend was still asleep, he let out a small breath of relief.
Ned knew this could not be hidden for long. He intended to tell Robert the moment he awoke.
At least then, when his king exploded, Ned would be there to stop him.
In truth, Ned had guessed correctly.
The decision to spread word that Lyanna still lived had indeed come from Viserys.
It was meant to add pressure to an already overwhelmed Robert, to see whether he would continue suppressing the rebellion or abandon everything to cross the Narrow Sea and attack Gohor.
A distracted, furious king would only drift farther from victory.
And there was an even more important purpose: to further weaken Robert's legitimacy.
If the lords learned that Rhaegar and Lyanna had been genuinely in love, then the Targaryens would no longer seem quite so mad.
It would polish their image.
A young prince, whose wife could no longer bear children, having a romantic scandal was hardly unforgivable.
Most lords in Westeros had bastards of their own. What was one more prince with an illegitimate child?
That was why, when he decided to bring Rhaella to Gohor, Viserys also planned to send people throughout the Seven Kingdoms to spread word that Lyanna still lived.
Ned understood this perfectly.
From the perspective of the stag, the falcon, the wolf, and the trout, from the stability of Robert's rule itself, Lyanna being dead was far better than Lyanna being alive.
But as her brother, Ned wanted her to live.
He ordered Jory to scour the camp for every rumor about Lyanna, emphasizing that he needed all versions before Robert woke.
It did not take long.
Jory soon returned with more than a dozen different rumors.
"My lord," Jory began grimly, "the first says Lady Lyanna is alive, and that Prince Rhaegar did not abduct her. They were truly in love."
"Mm," Ned replied quietly, signaling him to continue.
Even hearing that made Ned feel shame burn across his face.
It sounded as though his sister had seduced a married man. If that were true, then his father and brother had died for nothing.
And the rebellion itself would lose any justification.
Jory swallowed and went on, his words slow and painful. "Another rumor says Lady Lyanna not only ran away with Rhaegar, but that she… she bore him a child."
'Please do not let it be that,' Ned prayed silently.
If that were true, then the first rumor might as well be confirmed.
Pregnancy took time. If she truly hated the child, there were many ways to rid herself of it.
"There is one more rumor," Jory said, hesitating as he looked at Ned's face, which seemed to be turning to ice.
"Say it," Ned ordered.
"Another rumor claims that Rhaegar raped Lady Lyanna and imprisoned her.
That Queen Rhaella took her away, intending to use her as leverage to force House Stark, meaning you, to swear fealty."
"That one," Ned said at once.
Hearing it, he felt a strange surge of relief, followed by the sick sensation of swallowing a fly.
No matter what, the rumors could not be stopped now. He had to choose one version to tell Robert.
The first two would not do.
If Rhaegar was not a rapist, then Brandon and his father had died in vain. And the alliance of stag, falcon, wolf, and trout would fracture.
The third version was easier to accept.
At least it would allow Ned to persuade Robert to finish suppressing the rebellion first, and then rescue Lyanna afterward.
Once Balon's rebellion was settled, with Arryn and others helping to restrain him, perhaps Robert could be calmed.
Ned waited outside the king's tent, restless and anxious, pacing back and forth. Anyone could see how troubled the Lord of Winterfell was.
The moment Robert woke, Ned went to see him.
Fresh from sleep, Robert drained an entire barrel of ale in great gulps, then thrust a cup toward his friend.
Ned ignored it completely.
He told Robert that Lyanna was alive.
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