Duty or Desire // Jon Snow // Robb Stark

Madness of Mercy

'We need to make Tyrion Lannister is pay for what they did! we need justice!' Robb was telling Theon as bran road around and a horse with a new saddle that Tyrion had designed for him. Catelyn was currently at the veil with Tyrion or that was what they thought, all the Lannister needed to pay.

'Only the Lord of Winterfell can call the Bannerman and raise an army,' Robb remarked, Odetta was spinning around as bran rode around her, the biggest smile on both their faces.

'The king slayer drove a spear through your father's leg the king slayer rides for Castlery rock where no one can touch him.' Theon told him. Odetta watched Brandon happily riding around in circles but her ears were keenly aware of the boys conversation behind her

'Do you want me to march on Castlery rock?'

'You're not a boy anymore.' Theon told him 'they attacked your father they have already started the war it's your duty to represent your house when your father dies.'

'Ned isn't dead.' Odie said spinning to them. 'hes not going to die.' Odie looked between them and Robb hugged her tight. Ned had been like a father to her, he couldn't, THEY couldn't kill him. Bran's laughter died off, and odie pulled away from Robb and followed after Bran only to see him surrounded

'Drop the knife!' she demanded

'Let him go and I'll let you live.' Robb added pulling for his sword but four men and a woman, all wildlings were surrounding bran. The wildlings nodded happily before attacking Robb and Odetta but they were skilled slicing them down easily they were Wildlings and unprepared but one of the men pulled Bran down from his horse, held a blade to Bran's neck, Bran squirmed. Bran was defenseless he could not use his legs Odetta took a step forward but the man pressed his knife deeper into Brandon's throat she stopped her hands up before dropping her blade to the ground Robb did the same the wildlings smirked before a sword was shot through his back he dropped bran as he panting for breath when he fell to the ground Theon was behind him, he pulled his blade free. Odetta ran to Bran scooping him up in her arms.

"you're OK right? You're OK,' she coed and held him to her he nodded frantically and held tight to her.

++++++++++

'Lord stark you must be thirsty.' Varys said kneeling before him handing him a jug of water. 'I promise you it's not poisonous.' he said uncorked it, taking a sip before handing it over. And Ned took a long chug. 'Not so much my Lord I would save the rest if I were you, hide it men have been known to die of thirst in the cells.'

'What about my daughters?'

'The younger one has seem to escape the castle even my birds cannot seem to find her.'

'And Sansa?'

'Still engaged to Joffrey, Cersei will keep her close the rest of your household though are all dead it appears. I hate the sight of blood.' Varys admitted.

'You watched my men being slaughtered and you did nothing.' Ned sneered

'And I would again my Lord I was unarmed and surrounded by Lannister swords. when you look at me do you see a hero?" Ned took another sip 'what madness led you to tell the queen the truth about Joffrey's birth?'

'The madness of mercy. That she might protect her children.' ned admitted

'the children, it's always the innocent to suffer... It wasn't the wine that killed Robert or the boar though the wine slowed him down and the boar ripped him open but it was your mercy that killed the king. I trust you... but you are a dead man lord Eddard stark.' Vary told him.

'The queen can't kill me we have her brother.' Ned reminded him.

'The wrong brother sadly.' Varys informed him. 'Besides, your wife has let the imp slip through her fingers.'

'If that is true then slit my throat and be done with it.' Ned declared.

'Not today my Lord'

'Tell me some thing Varys who do you truly serve?' Ned questioned.

'The realm my Lord. Someone must.' Varys said walking away and leaving him in darkness.