Outlaw/ Ned Stark (2)

7. Blindsided

Everly sat in Neds lap he kissed along her shoulder a heavy sigh on her chest. She didnt like this at all. She was worried about what was to come. 

"I dont want you to worry about me." Ned remarked his hand trailing along her thigh.

"Thats like telling me not to breathe." Everly corrected.

"Everly, my love I know this is... dangerous but-"

"No buts. It is dangerous and I love you." Everly declared. "I'm worried about you and Arya and- Sansa is a moody little thing, the south is not good for her." Everly added. 

"I know my love but-"

"Ned-" Everly went to object but he kissed her.  He didn't think. He didn't consider. He just cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her. Sometime in the second between his lips touching hers and his tongue sweeping across the seam of her mouth, every worry started to fade and it just felt like the two of them. 

It morphed from a declaration of love to a plea, from a protective action to a promise her forever, from a spur of the moment impulse that he just needed to claim her right now to a need that went marrow deep. 

Everly let out a low moan as she melted against his chest and opened up for him. He didn't hesitate. There was no way he could have. It felt too perfect with her body pressed against him and her fingers gripping his shirt as if she needed to hold on or she'd get sucked under by the same wave of lust that had him ready to strip naked right here and right now and take her on his desk. It wasn't until he her a tap on the door that he pulled back.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Everly rose from Ned's lap taking a few paces back. Ned sighed watching her compose herself. 

''My Lord Protector,' Petyr remarked closing the hand of the kings door with a humorous bow. "My lady." 

"Lord Baelish." Everly answered trying to fix her hair, brushing it behind her ear as she glanced to Ned. A satisfied smile crept across his face. 

"I wanted to talk to you." Ned remarked. But damn if Petyr had the worst timing. 

"I can go." Everly offered taking a step to the door but Ned shook his head. 

''the King has no trueborn sons Joffrey and Tommen are Jaime Lannister's bastards.' Ned informed Petyr. 

''so when the King dies-'' Petyr encouraged. 

''his throne passes to his brother Lord Stannis.'' Ned decided. 

''so it would seem... unless-'' Petyr pushed again and Everly's eyes darted between them. 

''there is no unless, he is the rightful heir nothing can change that." Ned reminded him

''-and he cannot take the throne without your help you would be wise to deny it to him and to make sure Joffrey succeeds .' Petyr countered

''do you have a shred of Honor?'' Everly pondered and Petyr smirked back at her. 

"Lord Stark... you are now hand of the king and protector of the realm all of the power is yours you need only reach out and take it ...make peace with the Lannisters. release the IMP wed your daughter to Joffrey we've plenty of time to get rid of Stannis and if Joffrey seems likely to cause problems when he comes into his throne we simply reveal his little secret and seat Lord Renly there instead." Petyr offered

''We?'' Everly cut in again. She didnt know that she trusted Petyr. Catelyn didnt like Everly but she certainly hated Petyr. Which Everly had thought before was just catelyn being catelyn but after meeting Petyr she thought Catelyn's assessment was accurate. Petyr rolled his eyes looking to Ned again. But he nodded in agreement. 

"We?" Ned echoed. 

''you'll need someone to share these burdens I assure you my price would be modest.'' Petyr offered

''to suggest such things is treason." Ned reminded him harshly. 

''only if we lose.'' Petyr reminded him. 

"Heavens." Everly mumbled. 

''make peace with the Lannisters you say," Ned scoffed.

 ''If Ned is right, the lannisters tried to murder Bran, there is no working with them. They could have killed him.'' Everly declared. 

''we only make peace with our enemies my lord that's why it's called making peace." Petyr reminded him

''no I won't do it." Ned declared. 

''so it will be Stannis and war." Petyr offered. 

"there is no other choice he is the heir." Ned corrected sternly. 

"so why did you call me here not for my wisdom clearly." Petyr mused

''you promised Catelyn you would help me the Queen has a dozen knights and a hundred men-at-arms enough to overwhelm what remains of my household guard I need the gold cloaks, the city watch is 2,000 strong and sworn to defend the King's peace.'' Ned informed him. Ned would be a good king Everly couldnt help but think. He was smart and logical, he was brave and kind. 

''look at you, you know what you want me to do you know it has to be done but it's not honorable so the words stick in your throat... when the Queen proclaims one king and the hand proclaims another whose peace do the gold cloaks protect? who do they follow?' Petyr asked him. Ned stared back at him. "the man whos pays them.'' Petyr assured. 

"The gold cloaks protect the lannisters." Everly corrected. Petyr rose a curious brow back at her. "Jaime has been on the kings guard for years and years, he is a brother to them, they will stand by the lannisters."

"You love family." Petyr tsked. "You would stand by family, most wouldnt. They will choose gold."

"Even if they dont love Jaime they will stay by him because they think they will get a bigger pay out in the end for standing by Jaime Lannister." Everly remarked. 

"Thank you Baelish." Ned muttered and Everly sighed staring back at him. Petyr bowed and left. Everly looked to Ned as the door sealed. 

"Do you not know your Targaryen history?" Everly pondered. 

"Not much." Ned agreed. 

"Well I do." Everly informed him. "When the dance of dragons began, houses Velaryon and Targaryen were at dragonstone and the hightowers were at the capital, supering the throne. Prince Daemon targaryen had long since been away from the capital but he still had men loyal to him in the kings guard, he was the commander, he gave them their cloaks, he bled along side them, that means something." 

"I agree with you but what choice do I have?" Ned countered. "I have to try and end this without a war." 

"I understand that I just dont want you getting blindsided."