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Robert narrowed his eyes at the screen.
"Remember the name for me, brother" he grunted to Stannis.
Stannis nodded.
"But the men advising him are different."
"And you know these men?"
"I fought beside them once, long ago. Now Ned Stark wants my head. He drove me from my land."
Ned Stark stared at the screen coolly.
"You sold slaves."
"Aye."
"Why?"
"I had no money and an expensive wife."
"And where is she now?"
"In another place, with another man."
"Serves him right for being a slaver" Myrcella mumbled, speaking for the first time but still to herself. Nobody had the right to enslave another human, no matter what the reason is.
"I do feel a little sorry for him" Shireen whispered to her cousin. "He loved her and did whatever he could for her."
"Still no excuse" Myrcella shook her head.
[Scene changes to the Small council meeting in King's Landing. Eddard dismisses the council, as they are all leaving, Ned stops Pycelle.]
"I've been hoping to talk to you about Jon Arryn."
"Lord Arryn? His death was a great sadness to all of us. I took personal charge of his care, but I could not save him. His sickness struck him very hard and very fast. I saw him in my chambers just the night before he passed. Lord Jon often came to me for counsel."
"Why?"
"I have been Grand Maester for many years. Kings and Hands have come to me for advice since..."
"Lord Stark perhaps you could use a lesson or two about tone and tact?" Olenna Tyrell suggested, making the Lord of Winterfell bristle.
"What did Jon want the night before he died?"
"He came inquiring after a book."
"A book? What book?"
"I fear it would be of little interest to you, my Lord. A ponderous tome."
"I'd like to read it."
[Now in Pycelle's room, he hands a book to Ned.]
"The lineages and histories of the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms, with descriptions of many high lords and noble ladies and their children."
Ned's eyes narrowed just slightly at the name of the book. What could Jon want with that book?
"Harkon Umber, first of his name, born to lord Hother Umber and Lady Amaryllis Umber in the 183rd year after Aegon's landing, at the last hearth. Blue of eye, brown of hair and fair complected, died in his 14th year of a wound sustained in a bear hunt."
Ned's eyes shifted to Jon Arryn, who was looking at Robert.
"As I said, my Lord, a ponderous read."
"Did Jon Arryn tell you what he wanted with it?"
"He did not, my Lord. And I did not presume to ask."
No, he was not looking at Robert, he was looking beyond the man.
"Jon's death..."
"Such a tragedy."
He was looking at the children sitting on Stannis' other side, Shireen Myrcella, and Tommen.
"Did he say anything to you during his final hours?"
"Nothing of import, my Lord. There was one phrase he kept repeating: "The seed is strong," I think it was."
Something inside of him just... clicked.
"Jon, may I speak with you?" Ned asked, keeping his tone light and above suspicious. But he still earned those looks, mostly from his family and Robert. Jon on the other hand looked at him knowingly, as if he had expected Ned to figure it out.
The two walked into the corridor and Jon led Ned to the chamber he had been occupying. It was the perfect copy of Jon's chambers at the Eyrie, Ned noted.
"How long have you known?" Ned asked.
"Lord Stannis and I have suspected for a while, especially after Robert's bastards started popping up."
"Like the one here with us?"
"Gendry, yes. He works with Tobho Mott as an apprentice armourer the man smiled. "He's one of seven bastards of Robert's in Kings Landing. All of them with black hair and blue eyes. Then there is Mya Stone, Robert's first born also with Black Hair and blue eyes"
"And that got you thinking" Ned hummed, "a probable reason for the Lannisters wanting you dead."
"Perhaps."
"When do you plan on telling Robert?"
"As soon as we can assure the safety of the children. They are innocents in all this, but I don't think Robert will see it like that."
Ned wanted to argue, give his friend the benefit of the doubt, but how could he when the image of the memory of Rhaenys and Aegon's bodies and how Robert reacted to them came to mind? It was the entire reason he had hidden his nephew from everything.
"Robert has no heirs now" Jon pointed out, blue eyes critically assessing Ned.
"He has two brothers, and by all law, Stannis will inherit the throne. You don't need to test me to find my loyalties, Jon" Ned rolled his eyes with a smile. "Who else knows? About the children?"
"I would guess that perhaps the Martels have figured it out. Doran Martel has a sharp enough mind to catch on, Oberyn possesses one as well. Gendry and Mya being here only helps them."
"And they hold no love for the Lannisters and Robert for what was done to them... they could be a problem."
"No doubt they're already plotting their advantage, if they haven't already."
Ned frowned deeply.
"Perhaps they're planning to make an alliance with you and push your nephew to the throne."
And just like that the wind was knocked out of Ned.
"Jon-"
"Don't try to play me for a tool, boy. Robert and the realm may believe it, but I do not. I have raised you and I know you well enough to know that you'd never bed another woman while you are committed to another. No, the only explanation for you besmirching yourself would be because Jon Snow is still your family. Lyanna's son."
Jon walked up to the man and patted him on the shoulder.
"I understand why you did what you did, and I will support you when Jon's identity comes out. And trust me it will come out."
Ned pursed his lips.
**Viewing Hall**
"I wonder what Lord Stark wished to speak with Lord Arryn" Rhaegar murmured so just his wife could hear.
"Possibly the bastardy of the King's children" Elia answered, rolling her eyes at the shocked look on Rhaegar's face. "Don't be so dense, the clues are right in front of us."
"Where?"
Elia sighed at her husband's lack of observation. "Look at the boy and girl sitting next to Varys, and then look at Robert. Then look at Jaime and look at the King's supposed children."
Rhaegar did so, multiple times, then looked back a Elia with a frown.
"How are you certain?" he asked.
"Well according to Oberyn we missed the part where Jaime and Cersei fucked and Jaime threw Bran off the tower. And then Lord Arryn wants to read that specific book, the clues are right before us, Rhaegar. I'm just surprised you haven't connected the dots."
Rhaegar frowned at his wife, a little disappointed in himself as well. It all made perfect sense now that he thought about it.
"Perhaps Lord Arryn's death was not natural."
"Perhaps."
Husband and wife watched as Ned and Jon Arryn returned and retook their seats. Ned whispered something to Catelyn, who only nodded in reply.
[Scene changes to Jon on the wall, Sam joins Jon as his watch partner.]
"Jon isn't such a bad boy" Elia mused to her husband.
"Jon Arryn is hardly a boy, my love."
"I meant Jon Snow" Elia shook her head with a small smile.
Rhaegar frowned again. "Why bring him up suddenly?"
Elia shook her head with a smile.
"Just observing love."