Out of the woods // Ned Stark

4. King

'Why is your mother dead set on us looking pretty for the King?' Jon asked as their faces were shaved clean their hair cut nicely.

'It's for the queen I bet.' Theon said

'I hear the prince is a right royal prick.' Robb added with a smirk. "Maelia!' Robb called out and she stopped turning back towards them. "How was your date?" Robb questioned as Theon waggled his eyebrows.

"What date?" Maelia asked faking ignorance.

"I told you." Jon remarked.

"Come on, father was in a way better mood last night." Robb told her. "It must have went well."

"We ate and danced and drank." Maelia told him simply. "IT was fun."

"That was all?" Theon asked begging there to be more.

"You boys look very nice." Maelia told them as she continued on her way.

"I told you." Jon said again.
"Says the bastard." Theon remarked. "You fucked your mother, whoever that was, whos to say he isn't going to give us another little bastard pup... oh my Gods." Theon added slowly. "If Maelia gets pregnant-''

''Lord stark didn't-'' Jon began.

"Will she have pups or human babies?" Theon pondered his brain spiraling.

"Shut up, that's so weird.' Jon remarked.

"It is a strange concept." Robb admitted.

"Stop it. Both of you."

+

'I see them coming, the riders!' Bran announced.

'How?' Maelia questioned hands rooted on her hips, Bran looked up at her sheepishly. 'You were climbing, your mother said not to climb anymore.' Maelia reminded him.

'I wont do it again.' Bran lied looking to his feet. Maelia took a gentle hand and brought it to his chin.

'You know every time you look down I know you are lying.' Maelia told him kissing his cheek. 'Go on, line up.' Maelia told him when she caught Catelyn glaring at her.

"Maelia... I thought it best to tell the king..." Ned pulled her cloak tighter around her. What to tell Robert? He knew, he knew that Robert would want Maelia for himself so she needed to be someone important but a she wolf was not something he wanted advertised.

"I am the children's... guard wolf?' Maelia suggested with a smirk. That smirk, Ned wanted to kiss her right here and now she knew it too. She fixed his collar letting her hands linger on his shoulders. "Is Catelyn going to be okay today?"

"She has been... I have to keep an eye on her though. I worry what might set her off." Ned informed her glancing back at Catelyn, her jaw clenched as she stared at them.

"She seemed to have a normal amount of anger today." Maelia agreed.

"Could you keep an eye on Rickon and Bran when they arrive?" Ned requested grabbing her hand gently.

"Of course..." Maelia looked down the line of stark children. "You are missing one though." Maelia told him stepping into line.

'Where is arya?' Ned questioned looking back to Jon and Theon stood in the second row as Maelia stepped in line behind Bran and Rickon next to Jon. Jon shrugged. Arya was trouble, Maelia thought that if she ever had a child she would most likely be like Arya. But arya came running up with a guards helmet on her head.

'Found her.' Maelia teased and Ned smirked back at her, his tongue peeking out of his lips as he turned back forward.

'What are you doing?' Ned questioned, "where did you get that?' he pulled the helmet from arya's head and flattened her hair down. 'Go.' He told her pointing down the row of starks as the royal family approached.

Robert heartily hopped down from his horse Ned Stark and his family bowed before him on their knees as Robert approached. Robert motion for Ned to stand, Ned rose as did the rest of his family.

'Your Grace,' Ned said tipping his head to Robert.

'You got fat,' Robert noted but Ned looked down to Roberts stomach both men started laughing before they hugged joyously.

'Cat' He said happily hugging her, Catelyn stared at him, Ned couldn't see her mind starting to spiral.

'Nine years it has been nine long years, I have not seen you where have you been?' Robert asked

'I've been here guarding the for north for you, your grace.' Ned said obediently. Jon and Theon stood like statues behind the starks. Maelia remained silent as well. Rickon turned around and smiled up at her.

"Face forward little love." Maelia requested. But Rickon moved back leaning into her legs.

Robert went down the row of stark children greeting them happily, Bran lifted up his arms showing Robert his muscles as requested before he noticed Rickon fussing with his hair and winking over at Maelia.

Cersei cleared her throat waiting to be announced but in all honestly Robert had forgotten she was even there, he didn't care for his wife or his children, he wasn't a kid person considering the amount of bastards he had running around kings landing.

'Right, right, Cersei, Joffrey, Tommen, Marcella,' he said rushed.

'It is an honor to have you, your grace.' Catelyn said curtsying before cersei. Ned was impressed that Catelyn understood etiquette right now, that the queen and king were important people and her lashing out would have repercussions for all of them.

'Ned,' Robert declared patting his back. 'Take me to the crypts.'

'We've been riding for a full moon don't you think the dead can wait?' Cersei called after them.

'Come on let's go,' Robert said as his eyes drifted around, as Ned moved to Maelia.

"I can keep an eye on Catelyn." Maelia agreed but Maester Lewin offered Catelyn a tea and helped her inside.

"Never mind." Ned said giving her hand a squeeze as Robert called for him again.

'I heard about John Aryn.' Ned said once they were in the crypts.

'One minute he was fine. And then right through him... whatever it was. I liked that man,' Robert remarked.

'We both did ,' ned agreed

'Never had to teach you much,' Robert noted 'but do you remember me at 16? all I wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls.'

'I recall.' Ned admitted.

'But you always knew what was what.' Robert reminded Ned and he stared back at Robert a knowing look in his eye. 'Don't look at me like that,' Robert told Ned 'it's not his fault I didn't listen. I need you down in Kings Landing Ned. Not up here where you're no good to anybody,' Robert told him. 'Lord Eddard stark I would name you the hand of the King.' Robert declared. Ned got down to one knee.

'I'm not worthy of the honor.' He told Robert.

'I'm not trying to honor you I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom will I eat drinking whore my way to an early grave,' Robert informed him. 'Come on Ned, stand up,' he said patting his shoulder 'you helped me win the iron throne now let me help me keep the damn thing. We were meant to rule together. If your sister had lived we would've been bound by blood but it's not too late,' Robert told him. 'I have a son you have a daughter we will join our houses.' He said walking off.

Ned couldn't leave Maelia now, not after that kiss, things were finally starting to feel like home again around here, he wouldn't leave but what choice did he have. Robert was the king, he got what he wanted.