Out of the woods // Ned Stark

26. You are Welcome

'Do you deny your father's crime?" Petyr questioned.

"No, My Lords. We know he must be punished. All I ask is mercy. I know my Lord Father must regret what he did. He was King Robert's friend and he loved him. You all know he loved him. He never wanted to be Hand until the King asked him. They must have lied to him, Lord Renly or Lord Stannis or somebody. They must have lied!" Sansa spoke truthfully and honestly, begging for her father.

"Your father said I wasn't the King. Why did he say that?" Joffrey shouted

"He was badly hurt. Maester Pycelle was giving him milk of the poppy. He wasn't himself. Otherwise he never would have said it." Sansa pleaded.

"A child's faith. Such sweet innocence. And yet they say wisdom oft comes from the mouths of babes." Varys said solemnly as Maelia came up behind them, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned back against the wall, sansa looked to her. Maelia looked to calm for the situation at hand. Didn't she understand what was going on?

"Treason is treason!" pycelle declared.

"Anything else?" Joffrey sat pompously in the iron throne.

"If you still have any affection in your heart for me please do me this kindness, Your Grace." Joffrey leaned back in his chair debating sansa's words.

"Your sweet words have moved me. But your father has to confess. He has to confess and say that I'm the King. Or there'll be no mercy for him."

"He will." Sansa assured.

+++

'The riverrunns are cutting back with Lord Tywin Lannister at the heels.' Robb said exasperatedly 'they have a second Lannister army coming from the south our scouts confirmed is even larger than the king slayers.'

'Our best hope, our only hope,' Rodrick told him 'is that you can defeat them in the field.'

'And if I lose?' Robb countered

'If you lose your father dies.' Rodrick told him 'your sisters die... Maelia dies... we die.'

'Well that makes it simple then.' Robb told them.

++

'Tyrion' Tywin said in a very dead voice.

'Uncle. Father.' Tyrion said walking in. he searched the room for wine and food.

'The rumors of your demise were unfunded.' Tywin informed him.

'Sorry to disappoint you' Tyrion said sitting down opposite him. "Catelyn stark is dead. You are welcome." Tywin stared back over at him. "Fell through the moon door... but still I'm taking credit."

'And who are these companions of yours?' Tywin asked ignoring tyrions question.

'This is Shugga son of Dolph chief of the stone crows. Timett son of timett ruler of The burned men. This fair maid is chella daughter of cheyk the leader of the black and here we have Bronn son of...' Tyrion trailed off looking to Bronn.

'You wouldn't know him,' Bronn said

'May I present my Lord father Tywin son of Tytos of house lannister. Lord of Castlery rock warden of the west...' Tyrion told his new... friends. He looked to his father nervously. 'Kind of you to go to war for me' Tyrion said reaching for the wine but Tywin pulled it away.

'You left us no choice the honor of the house was at stake, your brother would never have submitted to capture so meekly.' Tywin informed him.

'We have our differences Jaime, he is brave, and I am better looking,' Tyrion said cheerfully.

'Yes some thing we can agree on.' Tywin said glancing out the tent flaps.

'He's been covering himself in glory Jaime has... now they siege Riverrun Catelyn Starks homeland-' Kevan told him.

'The Lord Eddard stark is our hostage he will lead no armies from his dungeons..' Tywin informed Tyrion.

'How did my sweet sister convinced the king to imprison his best friend?' Tyrion questioned

'The king is dead.' Tywin informed him. 'The king is dead, Joffrey is now the king.' Tywin informed.

'My sister rules you mean?' Tyrion countered.

'The stark son has called his banners he moves south.'

'One taste of battle and he will run back to Winterfell with his tail between his legs.' Tywin said

'Maybe,' Tyrion debated, 'the boy does have a certain belligerence you'd like him. While we're on the subject of war I made promises to my friends here and Lannister's always pays his debts .' Tywin rolled his eyes. 'For which I require 3000 Helms and shields plus swords pikes maces-'

'If it pleases my lord,' a squire came running in. 'Ser Addam Bids me report that the Northman have crossed the neck.'

'The wolf rushes into the Lions jaws.' Tywin said 'Kevan command drummers beat assembly,' he turned to the squire. 'Send word to Jaime that I'm moving against Robb stark.'

'At once my Lord' he said leaving. Tywin looked over Tyrion's traveling companions as tyrion finally got himself a glass of wine.

'It is said that men of the mountain clans are great warriors, ride with me against my enemies and you should have what my son promised you and more.' Tywin told them.

'Only if the half man fights with us.' They said looking over at Tyrion, Tyrion swallowed his drink stiffly. 'Until we hold the steel he pledged us the little lions life is ours.' Tywin looked back at his son

'Deal.'

'The boy may lack experience battle but he does have a certain mindless courage,' Tywin said to his counsel

+

"Maelia whats going on?" Ned questioned softly as she snuck down, she gave him water and food he gratefully started eating. Her eyes were focused on him but he knew her ears were keenly aware of every sound around them.

"Sansa is being kept in her chamber mostly. Arya is... here but I can't find her." Maelia said annoyed. "They want you to swear loyalty to Joffrey but I have been working on a back up plan."

"Maelia I don't want you getting hurt over this."

"It's not my blood that will spill." Maelia said with the utmost confidence.