Bringing the Dawn

XXV.

Eddard Stark

Kings Landing, 300AC

When the words had fell 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 had someone whom he knew had the highest claim of all, and it was one he was going for. 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? He had cut him deep in the shoulder which should've had him bleeding to death. It wasn't a ceremonious way for him to die, but in that sheer moment he had simply saw someone preventing him from getting to his sister.

Gods Lyanna, what would she think of him? 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 the newborn 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. His little sister hadn't sinned anyone other than spurn her betrothed and wed someone else secretly, and technically neither had Rhaegar considering the man was separated from Elia at the point they had met.

Even now, he didn't know the full details of their whirlwind romance. 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 or 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 a very 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 two peas in the same pod. Much like Jon and Arya were. They always teamed up together to play pranks on their older siblings and their parents, 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 court 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. There might only have been a week between the pair, but this didn't stop them almost acting like they were twins. Some people even spoke about how if Robb had inherited the Stark's black hair and grey eyes it would be difficult to tell the two apart.