Chapter 40: Lord of Winterfell

Lord Eddard Stark and Lord Robert Baratheon came as fast as they could to Prince’s Pass once they got the message from Sunspear, but it appeared that they were too late. Banners of House Tyrell, House Tarly, and many more Houses of the Reach fluttered throughout the entrance of Prince’s Pass. rows and rows of camps were planted on the dornish marches, seemingly blocking the entrance to the south.

 

Meanwhile, Robert and Ned were only bringing only seven men, all are Lords of the North.

 

“Gods…” Robert murmured. “If those loyalists lay a hand on Lyanna…”

 

“Calm down Robert,” said Ned calmly. “Them being here means they are still in negotiation, perhaps they might even be waiting for us.”

 

As they entered the army camp, they were being stared at by the soldiers of the Reach, making the other seven lords wary.

 

“This is a bad idea Lord Stark,” said Lord Ethan Glover nervously. “We’re practically walking to the wolf’s den.”

 

“What choice do we have Lord Glover?” said Ned seriously. “My sister is at the end of the camp. From the looks of it, they seemed to not want aggression, which is a good thing for now.”

 

“Getting in is one thing, Lord Stark.” said Lord Willam Dustin. “Getting out is another matter.”

 

“I believe that Dorne is not that deceitful to break guest rights, Lord Dustin.” said Robert sharply. “But we shall see what those bastards are planning.”

 

—

 

When they entered the Dornish camp, they seemed to have a change in scenery. The once untidied campground of the Reachmen, became this alarmingly disciplined campsite. The banner of House Martell, House Qorgyle, and House Fowler overwhelmed the entourage’s sight, guards holding strange weapons guarding the checkpoints of the camps, ever so vigilant.

 

Soon, a soldier guided them to a tower in the edge of the campsite, where the tower was surrounded by camps, circling around it. All of them got off their horses, and followed the soldier to a camp near the entrance of the tower.

 

“I’ve had enough of this Prince Morian!” shouted a man inside the camp, for all of the entourage to hear. “We’ve come because of your promise on giving the terms of ransom for Prince Rhaegar! And yet you made us sit here for days on end without any news or a speck of the Crown Prince at all!”

 

“I’ve told you many times, Lord Tarly, but you need to wait for the delegations of Lord Baratheon’s side.”

 

“We broke the siege of Storm’s end for this, Prince Morian. The king is not patient enough. Our army that stood on the Dornish Marches is restless.” said another chubby voice.

 

“Is that a threat, Lord Tyrell?” a man, who was probably Prince Morian, hissed. “Might I remind you that your king has not given Princess Elia’s remains to us, yet you blatantly threatened us on our land.”

 

“The dornish marches are not your land! And Princess Elia is the crown princess, she will be buried inside the sept, along with her predecessors.”

 

Before it could escalate any further, the soldier entered the camp, announcing the arrival of Robert's entourage. Robert and the others entered, only to see sharp eyes staring at them.

 

Ned could see Lord Randyl Tarly, Lord Mace Tyrell, a couple lords he didn’t know, and two kingsguards, Ser Jamie Lannister and Ser Barristan Selmy. On the Dornish side, he see Prince Morian and Prince Oberyn, along with a couple of lords behind them.

 

“Finally, the rebels have arrived.” Lord Tarly said sarcastically.

 

“You’re facing two rebellions, Lord Tarly.” said Oberyn in amusement. “We are rebels too, or does the king acknowledge our existence?”

 

“Dorne will always be a part of the seven kingdoms, Prince Oberyn.” said Tarly calmly. “Unless the king says so.”

 

“Targaryens are always so… narcissistic…” Oberyn chuckled. “Aegon claimed that they ruled seven kingdoms, even though it is only six kingdoms.”

 

“Enough brother.” said Morian sternly, making the other lords turn to him. “Lord Stark, I need you to follow me, Lady Stark has requested that as soon as you arrive, you are to meet her.”

 

“I will come too.” Robert interrupted.

 

“Only Lord Stark, Lord Baratheon.” said Morian sharply, turning towards the storm lord. “Now, I suppose the rest of you should rest first, we will discuss ransom terms in the evening.”

 

“We have to wait again?” Lord Tarly frowned.

 

“Well, a few more hours shouldn’t hurt you, lord Tarly.” Morian smiled at him. “And it appears that Lord Tyrell is liking the free time he’s got with all those dancers and wine in his tent.”

 

The northern lords chuckled at the comment, making Lord Tyrell’s face red. The rest of Lord Baratheon’s entourage will be guided by my men to their resting lodges, now if you’ll excuse us.” continued Morian, before bringing Ned to the Tower of Joy.

 

—

 

As Morian and Ned climbed the steps of the Tower, Ned could only dread at the thought of her sister’s condition, after all, he only knows that she was kidnapped and raped, not going on her own choosing.

 

“Is… Is my sister alright?” Ned asked nervously.

 

“She’s more than alright, Lord Stark.” Morian answered straightforwardly. “In fact, she’s never been better in these last few months.”

 

“W-What do you mean?”

 

“You’ll see.”

 

As both of them arrived at the top floor of the tower, Ned could see two people in that room. One, was his sister, sitting nervously beside the other person in the room, who was Rhaegar, chained to the wall, all bloodied and battered.

 

At first, Ned was confused at the sight. His sister is okay, yet Rhaegar…

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His thoughts were interrupted when Lyanna noticed him, before sprinting to him, hugging her brother.

 

“Ned!” she exclaimed in joy. “Oh Ned! I- Forgive me… I– I didn't know it'd come to this…”

 

“What? What is this?” Ned said in confusion as he released his sister’s hug.

 

Lyanna went wide-eyed for a second before turning to Morian. “You didn’t tell him yet?”

 

“I thought that you might be the one to tell him.” said Morian calmly, turning towards the half-unconscious Rhaegar.

 

—

 

Ned sat down as Lyanna told him the whole truth. Ned could only sit in silence on the bed as he heard his sister explain what she did, his eyes turned dim slowly but surely.

 

“They were married.” Morian added. “At first they didn’t want to tell us where the document was, but after a couple of ‘attempts of convincing’, they finally told us.”

 

Morian threw a file of papers towards Ned, showing all the evidence of the marriage and the debacle as a whole.

 

Ned read through it one by one, his face grew more tired by the second.

 

“A-Are you… Pregnant?” Ned asked his sister calmly.

 

“We’ve been giving her moontea in Sunspear,” said Morian. “We have many of those there…”

 

“Ned… I- I’m sorry….” Lyanna could only ask for forgiveness, but Ned has no response.

 

“Do you… Father died for you… Our brother died for you.” said Ned in disbelief. “I thought… we thought… that… Gods… I brought thousands of men to die for nothing…”

 

“I- I’m sorry Ned…”

 

Ned stared at the half unconscious Rhaegar that was chained to the wall. He stood up and walked up to him, grabbed his collar, and stared at the violet eyes of the prince. He was hesitating, he was about to punch Rhaegar’s face, but stopped himself.

 

“Prince Morian…” Ned breathed. “You know how Robert would react. I can’t give him Lyanna if you decide to tell the other lords. Can you promise me to not tell anybody about this?”

 

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” said Morian calmly. “Might I remind you, Lord Stark, that Dorne is also the victim here. Princess Elia and her children were practically a hostage for almost a year, Rhaegar dishonoured her, by divorcing Elia and eloping with your sister. As a brother, I cannot, and will not hide this preposterous act that your sister and Rhaegar had done. I will still give Rhaegar and Lyanna to whoever gives a better offer, but I will expose the true event that happened in this very tower.”

 

Ned clenched his fist in desperation as he looked at his crying sister. He turned towards Morian, and unexpectedly, he knelt.

 

“Then as a brother, you must almost know what I am feeling right now, Prince Morian.” said Ned calmly. “I beg of you, if Robert knows, he will surely demand her head…”

 

“Ned…” Lyanna whispered. “I– I will take responsibility for my actions… if Robert wants my head, then he can kill me by himself. If Robert still wants to marry me, then I will marry him. If he refuses to kill me and refuses to marry me as well… then I will stay at Winterfell, waiting for another lord to take my hand, although I very much doubt someone will.”

 

“Isn’t that what you want, Lady Stark?” Morian said sarcastically. “To not do anything at all and just do anything you want?”

 

At Morian’s comment, Lyanna just kept silent.

 

“I cannot risk your life, Lyanna.” Ned said calmly. “Please, Prince Morian, I will not ask this favour as a lord to a prince, but as a brother, to a brother.”

 

“My mind is made up, Lord Stark.” Sighed Morian. “But… I have a way…”

 

“Then please…”

 

Morian stared at the tent below, his brother waiting for him. “If Lord Baratheon decided to break the betrothal, then might I suggest that Lady Stark be married to my brother, Oberyn? Of course, if Lord Baratheon demands her head, we will protect her.”

 

“What?!” Lyanna exclaimed.

 

Ned instantly raised his head and stared at Morian’s blue eyes. “Lyanna to be married to your brother?”

 

“Yes.” Morian nodded. “And… that the north should declare independence from the crown.”

 

“Declare independence?” Ned went wide-eyed. “Prince Morian, I cannot decide—”

 

“I understand, Lord Stark, but that’s only a secondary matter. For now, if Robert decides to break the betrothal, then I ask that Oberyn will take Lady Stark as his wife.”

 

Ned slowly turned to Lyanna, she was looking at the floor, her face seemed desperate.

 

“Lyanna?” Ned called her name.

 

“I–” Lyanna hesitated, clenching her hand. “Very well, I will accept it if Robert decides to not marry me.”

 

Ned closed his eyes. “Then, as Lord of Winterfell, I acknowledge this agreement.”

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