King's Landing was quiet that night, but the silence was not real.
Behind the city walls, thousands of soldiers moved through the streets, guards were stationed at the gates, and the Red Keep was under heavy surveillance.
Ned Stark was a prisoner.
Sansa was being held inside the castle.
And Jon Snow knew that time was running out.
He could not leave Ned there.
Nor was Arya willing to leave her father and sister behind.
That was why Tristan had come.
With Jon, Arya, and Tyrion.
This time, they had no army.
Only a small group.
But it was enough.
Entering King's Landing
Their ship approached the harbor of King's Landing after nightfall.
Tristan stood at the bow, watching the walls illuminated by torches.
Beside him stood Jon.
Behind them, Tyrion was reviewing the papers he had prepared for their entry into the city, while Arya watched the guards.
Tyrion said,
"From this moment on, no one acts recklessly."
Tristan looked at him.
"I was about to say the same thing to you."
Tyrion smiled.
"I am the person here most capable of acting rationally."
Arya said,
"You are the person here who talks the most."
Jon laughed.
But Tristan remained silent.
He watched the harbor.
Then he said,
"Are you sure the papers will work?"
Tyrion raised the documents.
"A merchant ship from Braavos, carrying goods to the capital. Everything is real except the names of the people aboard."
Tristan looked at him.
"So we don't use the dragons."
"Not yet."
The ship reached the harbor.
One of the guards approached.
"Who is the captain of the ship?"
Tyrion stepped forward.
"I am."
"The cargo?"
"Silk, spices, and some goods from Braavos."
The guard looked at the papers.
Then at Tyrion.
"Why didn't you enter during the day?"
Tyrion answered calmly,
"A storm delayed us."
The guard continued staring at him.
Then he said,
"Open two crates."
The men opened one of the crates.
It was filled with silk.
Then they opened the second.
It contained spices.
The guard closed the crate.
"You may enter."
He walked away.
Jon quietly exhaled.
"I thought he was going to discover us."
Tyrion replied,
"If he had, it would have been a bad night."
Tristan said,
"But it wouldn't have been bad for us."
Tyrion looked at him.
"That kind of confidence is what worries me."
The four of them disembarked.
They left most of their weapons and equipment aboard the ship, carrying only what they needed.
Tristan's sword.
Jon's sword.
Arya's dagger.
And a few tools carried by Tyrion.
They were not here to fight.
They were here to infiltrate.
They moved through the alleys, away from the main streets.
Tyrion said,
"We have an old passage."
Jon asked,
"To where?"
"To an area near the Red Keep."
Tristan looked at him.
"How do you know it?"
"Because I lived here."
He paused.
"And because the royal family never cared enough to close every passage beneath the city."
They reached an old abandoned building.
Tyrion entered.
He walked toward the wall.
He pressed a particular stone.
Part of the wall shifted, revealing a dark passage.
Arya said,
"Impressive."
Tyrion replied,
"Save your admiration until we're out alive."
They entered.
Tyrion closed the door behind them.
The Old Passages
The passage was narrow and dark.
There was nothing but the light of the torch Tristan carried.
They moved slowly.
Jon walked at the front.
Tristan behind him.
Arya beside Tristan.
And Tyrion at the rear.
After several minutes, Jon raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
They heard footsteps.
The sounds grew closer.
Two guards.
Jon looked at Tristan.
Tristan gestured with his hand.
Jon moved silently.
Arya hid behind a corner.
The guards appeared.
They noticed nothing.
The first passed them.
At the right moment, Jon emerged from the darkness and knocked him to the ground.
At the same time, Arya lunged at the second.
The guard tried to shout.
But Tristan reached him and covered his mouth.
A brief struggle followed.
Then it was over.
Both guards were dead.
Jon looked at Tristan.
"We had no choice."
"I know."
Tyrion searched one of the guards.
He found a set of keys.
"This will help us."
Then he looked at one of the doors.
"This area leads to the cells."
The Black Cells
The air became colder.
The walls were covered in moisture.
In the distance, the sound of chains reached them.
Tyrion said,
"The Black Cells are below."
Jon asked,
"Are you sure Ned is there?"
"The spies confirmed it."
Tristan stopped.
"What about Sansa?"
"In the Red Keep."
Jon said,
"Then we get Ned first, and then we go for her."
Tristan nodded.
They reached an iron gate.
There was a single guard standing before it.
He saw them.
He drew his sword.
"Who are you?"
No one answered.
The guard rushed toward Jon.
Jon blocked his strike.
At the same moment, Tristan appeared behind the guard.
He struck him hard and knocked him down.
The guard tried to rise.
But Arya reached him and drove her dagger into his chest.
The man fell dead.
Jon looked at her.
"Let's go."
Tyrion took the keys.
He unlocked the door.
They entered.
Ned Stark
The final cell was at the end of the passage.
Tristan stood before the door.
He looked at Jon.
"Ready?"
Jon nodded.
Tristan opened the door.
A man was sitting in the darkness.
His hair was long and disheveled.
His face was exhausted.
His clothes were dirty.
But he had not lost his dignity.
The man raised his head.
He looked at Tristan.
Then at Jon.
His expression changed.
Tristan said,
"I didn't expect to see you this soon, Lord Stark."
The man remained silent.
Then he said,
"Jon?"
Jon stepped forward.
"I am here."
Ned stared at him for several moments.
Then he said,
"Jon…?"
"Yes."
Ned stared at him for a few moments.
Then he embraced him.
It took him several moments to comprehend what was happening.
Then he pulled away slightly.
He placed a hand against Jon's face.
"You've grown."
Jon replied emotionally,
"And you've become thinner."
Ned gave a quiet laugh.
Then he looked at Tristan.
And suddenly recognized him.
"Tristan."
Tristan smiled.
"It has been a long time, Lord Stark."
Ned said,
"The last time I saw you, I never expected to see you here."
"Neither did I."
Ned looked at Arya.
His eyes widened.
"Arya."
She ran to him.
She embraced him tightly.
"Father."
Ned closed his eyes.
He placed a hand on her head.
"I knew you would find your way with them."
Arya said,
"I wasn't alone."
Ned looked at Tristan.
Then at Jon.
"Thank you."
Tristan said,
"We didn't come here for thanks."
He opened the cell door completely.
"We are getting you out."
Ned said,
"Sansa."
Jon answered,
"We'll take her with us."
Ned said,
"Then we have no time."
Escaping the Cells
Ned left with them.
He moved slowly because of the days he had spent imprisoned.
Tristan noticed.
"Can you walk?"
"I can."
Then Ned looked at Jon.
"Just help me."
Jon placed an arm around him.
They began moving.
They reached the passage.
Tyrion said,
"We need to move quickly."
Ned asked,
"How many guards?"
"More than we want."
Tristan said,
"But fewer than four people can handle."
Tyrion looked at him.
"Four?"
Tristan pointed at Arya.
"Five."
Tyrion said,
"Six."
Everyone looked at him.
"What?"
Tyrion said,
"I'm here too."
Arya laughed.
"You can barely fight."
"I can think, and that's more important."
They reached the secret exit.
But before Tyrion could open the door, they heard voices.
Guards.
Jon said,
"They discovered it."
Tristan asked,
"How many?"
Tyrion looked through a small opening.
"Eight."
Jon drew his sword.
Tristan did the same.
Arya gripped her dagger.
Ned said,
"Jon, stay with me."
Jon answered,
"I won't leave you."
Tristan opened the door.
The guards rushed in.
The fight began.
The first guard fell to Tristan.
The second to Jon.
Arya moved quickly between the men, stabbing one in the leg before finishing the fight.
Tyrion stayed behind them, but when one of the men approached him, he used the sword of a fallen guard.
Moments later, the fight was over.
Eight guards.
None remained alive.
Tyrion looked around.
"We need to move."
Reaching Sansa
They left the passage.
They had to reach Sansa's chambers.
But the castle was now on alert.
The sound of bells filled the air.
Tyrion said,
"They know Ned is gone."
Tristan said,
"Then we move now."
They advanced through the corridors.
Ned knew much of the castle.
He said,
"This way."
He led them into a side passage.
They reached a staircase leading to the upper floor.
Three guards appeared.
Tristan did not wait.
He rushed toward them.
Jon joined him.
Arya killed one from behind.
Within moments, all three had fallen.
Ned said,
"This is not how I expected to leave the castle."
Tristan said,
"We could have done it more quietly."
Ned looked at him.
"But?"
Tristan smiled.
"We didn't have time."
They reached Sansa's chambers.
Two guards stood before the door.
Tristan raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
"Arya."
She nodded.
She moved behind one of them.
At the same time, Jon advanced.
The two guards fell before they could make a sound.
Tristan opened the door.
Sansa
Sansa was sitting near the window.
When she heard the door, she quickly stood.
She expected to see one of the guards.
But she saw her father.
She froze.
"Father?"
Ned said,
"Sansa."
She ran to him.
She embraced him.
She began to cry.
"I thought they were going to kill you."
Ned said,
"They won't."
Then he looked at Tristan.
"Not tonight."
Sansa looked at Tristan.
Then at Jon.
Then at Arya.
"How did you get in?"
Arya said,
"This isn't the time to talk."
Tyrion said,
"I agree with her for once."
Tristan said,
"We leave now."
The Castle Under Siege
They were about to leave when a voice thundered through the corridor.
"Seal all the exits!"
Tyrion said,
"This is bad."
Tristan asked,
"How much time do we have?"
"I don't know."
Ned said,
"There is a way out."
"Where?"
Ned pointed in another direction.
"A small gate leading to one of the passages near the city."
Tristan said,
"Then we go there."
They moved quickly.
But they did not get there easily.
Dozens of soldiers appeared in the corridor.
Everyone stopped.
Jon said,
"There are too many."
Tristan looked at Ned and Sansa.
Then at Arya and Tyrion.
"We don't want to fight all of them."
Tyrion said,
"And I am very happy you said that."
Tristan looked toward the sky through an open window.
Then he said,
"We have another option."
The Dragons
They reached a high rooftop of the castle.
Below them, King's Landing was in chaos.
Soldiers were running.
Bells were ringing.
People were gathering in the streets.
Then everyone heard an enormous sound.
A roar that tore through the night.
Ned raised his head.
He froze.
Then Bahamut appeared.
He emerged from between the clouds.
Behind him came the other three dragons.
Four dragons flew above King's Landing.
The soldiers screamed.
Panic spread.
Ned said,
"Four?"
Tristan said,
"Yes."
Ned looked at him.
"I knew you had become powerful, but I never imagined this."
Tristan said,
"Get on."
Bahamut approached.
Jon helped Ned climb aboard.
Then Sansa climbed up.
Arya.
Tyrion.
And finally Tristan.
But before they left, Ignil flew over the walls of King's Landing.
His size alone was enough to make everyone retreat.
The dragon approached the Red Keep.
He opened his jaws.
Fire burned inside them.
Tyrion shouted,
"Tristan!"
Tristan raised his hand.
"No."
Bahamut closed his jaws.
Jon said,
"You won't burn them?"
Tristan answered,
"Not today."
Then he looked over the city.
"We came to save your family, not to burn King's Landing."
The four dragons circled above the capital.
Their wings blocked out the moon.
Then all four dragons released a roar that shook the walls.
That was enough.
Every person in King's Landing knew at that moment that Ned Stark was no longer in their hands.
And that the man who had come to take him back possessed a power they could not face.
The dragons flew away.
Far From King's Landing
After hours of flying, they landed in a safe location.
Ned dismounted.
Sansa stood beside him.
Jon stood before him.
Ned said,
"Why did you come back for me?"
Jon answered,
"Because you are my family."
Ned looked at him for a long moment.
Then he placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And you are my son."
Jon said nothing.
He simply looked at him.
Arya stood beside them.
Tyrion watched Tristan.
"We succeeded."
Tristan answered,
"Yes."
Then he looked east.
"Now we return to Astapor."
Tyrion said,
"I was thinking the same thing."
Tristan smiled.
"We need to return quickly."
"Why?"
"I have a bad feeling."
None of them knew that what awaited them in Astapor was far more dangerous than anything they had faced in King's Landing.
The city they had left behind was entering a war they knew nothing about.
And the enemies they believed were far away had already made their decision.
They had decided to strike Astapor in Tristan's absence.
And the price the city would pay would be blood and fire.