Bringing the Dawn [IN EDITING]

***XXV.

Eddard Stark

King's Landing, 301 AC

When the words had fallen from Barristan's lips, he could say with certainty he was unsure about the future. He knew the truth of the royal children and he knew they would not be accepted by the people. His mind was saying to him to support Stannis as next in line due to this fact however there was something there reminding him that Stannis was not first in line. People had forgotten why Robert had become King in the first place, that much he knew. Many believed he had taken the Iron Throne by right of conquest. Yet this was not the case. Robert made his claim based on his blood as his grandmother had been Princess Rhaelle Targaryen- the youngest sister of King Jaehaerys II. If this claim were to be upheld then it meant that there was someone ahead of Stannis, and he had raised said someone as his own son. Before he had left Winterfell, Jon had been strongly against ever acting on his claim, so what had made him change his mind? Had it been Howland? Had it been someone else? Had it been Arthur? That was a name he never thought he would think of again. How had the man survived?

What would Lyanna think of him and her boy? He had tried his best to raise him as his own, have him be one of the pack which he was- just not as directly as the others were. When he had walked in to see his sister with her stomach cut open and the screaming baby against her chest, there was a part of him that wanted the babe to disappear as it would be considerably easier. But the moment she handed her babe over for him to cradle and he looked into those lilac-grey eyes, he knew he couldn't do it. As difficult as it was for him, he was raised that a child is not to be punished for the sins of their parents.

Even now, he didn't know the full details of their relationship. It was just so unlike his little sister to up and leave to chase after someone everyone believed to be wed. Something had to have happened in between then, and it must've happened in Winterfell as she had fled in the middle of the night disguised as a servant and rode hard for White Harbour. Ned had met many people who could ride fast, but his little sister may as well have been a centaur. No one could ever catch her; never once did she fall. Remembering the first time their father had lifted her onto a pony. Only two hours after this and she had been galloping in circles around their home, something neither he nor Brandon had done for a couple of weeks.

He had a strong feeling Benjen knew what had occurred, but he never spoke about it. He hadn't sent any raven to him in an awfully long time, clearly furious he had not brought him in on the secret with Jon. Brandon supported her, Ned had loved her fiercely, but Benjen and Lyanna were attached at the hip. Much like Jon and Arya were. They always teamed up together to play tricks on their older siblings alongside many occupants in Winterfell too. But what was done was done, there was no turning back from it now. Simply looking to the piece of parchment beside his bed which documented Robert's final wishes.

"I shall come down to the throne room to begin the proceedings."

Barristan nodded before leaving the room, suddenly remembering the last time he had been in a room together with the man. When he had been sparring with Jon and apparently been so impressed that he had offered to squire the boy himself. Despite him not agreeing in the end, he knew if Bran had not fallen he would've done just that. He wanted out of Winterfell for a long time, hence why he had been talking for years about going to the Wall. But that all changed when he was told. Instead of going north, the boy was preparing to come south. And if he knew his own heir enough, there was no way he was not going to support his baby brother.

Eddard took the parchment and fixed his clothing, knocking gently on his daughters doors to alert them. He had tasked Yoren to get both of them out of here, spotting the man lurking in the shadows of the floor in question and nod towards him gently. There seemed to be a lot less soldiers than usual today, which was odd to him. Any other day he had spent in the Keep the place was crawling with Lannister soldiers alongside Gold Cloaks and Red Cloaks. Where were they all? He got his answer soon enough as he walked into the throne room intending to hand the piece of parchment over so he could make it look as though he was taking the mantle. But he was left stunned at what he saw.