4th Month of 283 A.C. King's Landing
Eddard Stark
King's Landing, was a big city an impressive one at that, and yet Ned disliked it, the air was too humid, the people were too vacuous there was no concern for anyone but themselves. And this had been shown quite thoroughly when Robert had entered the city, there had been a fanfare when his friend had entered the city, there were people cheering and yelling out his name, and Robert dressed in his armour with his helm on looked magnificent like a true warrior king. Yet the boy whom Ned had grown up with would not have been so consumed by the praise that he would have forgotten the code of honour they were raised with which stated that something needed to be put aside for the people of King's Landing who had just experienced a brutal sack. His friend had revelled in the cheers and the joy of the people and had seemed to feed off of them, it was this that he was telling himself was the reason for Robert's complete change of attitude when the bodies were presented. Before the rebellion, Ned was certain his friend would have been just as horrified by the sight of the bodies as Ned had been. His friend had only briefly looked at the bodies before dismissing them, and accepting Tywin Lannister's pledge of fealty, it was something so out of character for Robert that Ned had been completely surprised and outraged by it. Such a casual dismissal of human life, something that Ned was not sure he wanted to see continue in Robert, but he did not know what to do.
As it were, the calling of a meeting between Robert, Jon and his father and himself to discuss what was going to happen next regarding certain issues was where he wanted to bring the matter up. The king spoke first. "My lords and Ned, I thank you for your help in winning me this throne. The war is not yet done though, the Tyrells still lay siege to my home. My brothers are struggling to keep going and as such that is the first matter that I wish to discuss. I would take your suggestions as to what to do."
Ned's father spoke first. "It would seem that Mace Tyrell is merely holding out, and not committing either way. We know that there were very few men were sent north with Rhaegar to fight at the God's Eye. A few thousand nothing more than that, as such it seems he is merely keeping his strength at Storm's End waiting for someone to commit. Fighting him is not going to bring much reward to your cause Your Grace. It would merely make things worse and tire out an already tired army. Sending someone to negotiate terms with the man however would be the best situation. Mace Tyrell, I believe is someone who would be willing to bend the knee now that he knows would be willing to talk reasonably."
Robert looks at his father then and asks. "And whom would you suggest, and what sort of terms would be considered acceptable to offer to a man who has been laying siege to my home for nearly a year?"
His father is silent for a moment and then says. "I would recommend either myself or Lord Hoster. You and Lord Arryn need to remain in King's Landing for the nonce to ensure that the city and your reign here is stable. There are lords in Crackclaw point who will continue to cause some problems and a strong presence here will ensure they get no room for more. As for the terms, I suggest that he and his lords are pardoned for laying siege after all they are only doing their job to the crown. Furthermore, as Willas Tyrell is still in our possession and as such the boy is a useful bargaining chip. I believe that bringing the boy with me when I go to Storm's End would be a good thing, it would show that you are a forgiving king and someone who is willing to let bygones be bygones. Bringing Willas Tyrell and saying to Mace that we shall return his son if he bends the knee would be the best way to ensure that he bends the knee in double quick time."
Ned looks at Robert then and the man seems to be considering this and then he nods. "Very well then. Lord Rickard you and the northern army shall march for Storm's End with Willas Tyrell in tow. Relieve the siege and then, this brings us onto the next point I wished to discuss. You know where Lyanna is correct?"
Ned nods and says. "Yes Your Grace, Lord Arel Dayne has told us that Prince Rhaegar kept Lyanna in a place called the Tower of Joy in northern Dorne."
Robert snorts then and says. "The nerve of the man, kidnapping my betrothed and leaving her in his wife's homeland. He clearly was a madman and someone who needed to be removed. Such a man becoming king? Gods he would have been worse than Aerys. Now then we know that there are three Kingsguard correct?" Ned nods and his friend continues. "I want them killed all three of them and any other idiots that are left with them. They have stood between me and my Lyanna for too long now. I will not have it continued."
Ned nods and then Jon Arryn speaks. "Speaking of the Lady Lyanna, there is the issue over whether or not she would be suitable for the king to marry. I do not mean to offend you my lord Rickard, but she has been gone for two years, and it is reasonable to assume that she is not a maiden. Rhaegar Targaryen whatever he might be is not a fool, he would've done something to ensure that she could not be taken away from him should something occur. There will be lords who will protest the marriage taking place, after all she is not a maiden presumably, and as such they will not want someone who has been defiled by the enemy as it were and placed in as Queen. I am not saying it is right nor is it the best thing, but it is also something of a practical thing. Tywin Lannister, would want some sort of reward for aiding in removing the threat of Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys, his daughter Cersei is a maiden and is beautiful and smart by all accounts and would also ensure Tywin never tried to side with Viserys Targaryen."
Ned looks at his foster father shocked, and then turns to his father to see his face schooled into a neutral expression. "I understand where you are coming from Lord Arryn, and whilst I can see the benefits of having Tywin Lannister tied to the throne through marriage, he is a man who would want more than that. He would want his heir back as well and that is something that must needs be discussed further. I believe that Lyanna would make a good Queen, she is strong minded yes, but she knows how to please people. Furthermore it would be the perfect ending to this rebellion. The king has won the war and now he is married to the woman he loves and fought the war for."
Robert speaks then and says. "I agree with Lord Rickard, Lyanna is my betrothed and as such I have fought this whole war for her, and I will not accept anyone else as my wife. As for Jaime Lannister, let Tywin have his bloody heir back I do not care one bit about that golden haired shit. I want Lyanna as my queen."
Ned breathes a sigh of relief then, but another matter comes to his mind and asks. "Your Grace, whilst I am relieved that you are still going to marry Lyanna, I wish to know, as I am sure my father does, if there is a child with Lyanna, what will happen to that child?"
There is a long silence then, Ned wonders if he has said something wrong and then Robert chokes out. "A child? You truly believe that there would be a child? That my Lyanna would give birth to a monster, that madman's monster? That she would allow it to live and not kill it herself? I cannot believe that nor will I allow it. Should there be a child with Lyanna when you find her, I want that child killed, and I want proof that it has been killed. I will not suffer seeing the child around here, nor will I want to see my Lyanna suffer seeing the bastard dragonspawn."
Ned feels the anger grow inside of him, hearing his friend refer to a child who would be his niece or nephew as dragonspawn. His anger is growing so rapidly that he has to grit his teeth to prevent from screaming. "That child is not dragonspawn, that child would be Lyanna's child. That child would be my niece or nephew, and is someone who would be innocent of their father's sins and actions. I would not allow you to harm them, nor will I allow you to dictate what happens to the child that is Lyanna's decision."
His friend seethes then. "Remember who you are speaking to Eddard Stark. You are speaking to your king now. And my decision is final. If I say Lyanna's child dies, the child dies. End of story, I will not suffer having dragonspawn around King's Landing or even breathing. The child dies and Lyanna shall be my wife. I love Lyanna and wish to marry her, but the child must die."
Ned feels his own anger begin to reach boiling point. "The child is innocent of any crime Your Grace." He places emphasis on the title. "The child did not commit the sins Rhaegar did, or Aerys did, the child is but a babe, and as such must be treated as such. Your hatred for Rhaegar is clouding your judgement. Just as it did when you allowed for Tywin Lannister to go unpunished for the killings of Elia and her children."
Robert stands then and so does Ned. "Mind your tone Lord Eddard. I am the king and you are coming very close to pushing me over the line, and once it is crossed then you shall face my wrath. The child dies, Lyanna will become my wife when the child dies. I will not allow it to survive and breathe. Tywin Lannister did the realm a service by removing those two brats from the way to the throne, and ended any potential threat they might have caused."
"They were babes at their mother's breast, unaware of the crimes their father and grandfather committed. They are not spawn they are but innocent children. You have allowed a mad man to commit murder, there were plenty of other things that could've been done with the children. The citadel, the faith the wall, anything could've been done and yet you are happy to see them dead and plot the death of Viserys Targaryen." Ned says his anger nearly erupting.
"Enough Ned! They were his children, they would be the cause of more trouble because there are people who would want them to cause trouble. You are too blinded by naivety to think that they would not cause trouble. They had to go and Viserys will die just as well, as will this bastard dragonspawn that Rhaegar has gotten on your sister." Robert bellows.
Ned feels cold all over now, this is not the man he became friends with, this is not the man he fought beside, and he knows not who this man is. "I do not believe you Robert. I cannot understand why you are so blinded by hate that you would see innocents killed to sate your anger. You are no better than Tywin Lannister, you might be my king, but you are not the man I became friends with, you are not the man I chose as a brother." With that he turns and leaves, his anger guiding him to the woods of the Red Keep, he sits down next to the tree which is supposed to be a heart tree and prays, and thinks. Robert is not the man he once was, that Ned sees now, but it is a realisation that stings. The crown has corrupted his friend, beyond what he thinks is acceptable he is shaken to his core, Robert is…. Robert is lost gods it is hard to know what is right and what is wrong anymore.
He sits there for a long time thinking, thinking over what he is going to do, and what he wants to do. He knows not, but he hopes with time he will come to know, he is not so sure but he does wish to know what to do. "Ned," his father's voice startles him out of his reverie he turns round somewhat and sees his father standing a few feet away, his cloak on. "You said some very good things in that meeting. Robert Baratheon is growing more and more astray with each passing day, his coronation has not yet happened but when it does we shall be far away from here."
Ned nods and then asks. "What happened after I left? I did not mean to storm out as I did father I apologise."
His father is silent for a moment and then says. "It makes no matter, the king is wroth and has demanded that we leave for Storm's End on the morrow. He is making sure that you cannot return to King's Landing for some time. At least until Lyanna and he are wed."
Ned nods and then asks. "Are you still going to allow Lyanna to marry Robert? I know he is the king and their marriage would make Lyanna queen, but would you do that at the expense of your grandson? Especially when you have told me your own doubts about the kidnapping?"
His father looks at him a long time then and when he responds his voice is soft. "I do not know yet Ned. All I can say now is that plans can change."