Monster // Petyr Baelish

39. How To Die

'You have seen better days my Lord.'

'Another visit?' ned questioned varys.

'Rieka and Sansa came to court this morning to plead for your life.' Varys informed him.

'I don't need her begging for me, did you laugh with the others?' Ned asked

'You do me wrong my Lord your blood is the last thing I want.'

'What do you want?'

'When I was still a boy before they cut my balls off with a hot knife I traveled with a group of actors through the free cities they taught me that each man has a role to play the same is true at court. I am the master of whispers. I am a good actor my Lord.'

'Can you free me from this pit?' ned spat.

'I could but will I? No. As I said I'm no hero.' Varys reminded him.

'What do you want? no riddles no stories tell me what you want?' Ned begged

'Please do you know that your son is marching south with an army of Northman?' He said kneeling before him 'fighting for his father's freedom'

'Robb, he's just a boy.' Ned muttered.

'Boys have been conquerors before but the man giving Cersei the keys is the Kingdom... the Brothers ban together with Stannis. He has the best claimed to the throne he's a battle commander and he is-'

'Renly doesn't think so.' Ned remarked

'Rieka pleaded so sweetly for your life it would be a shame to throw it away. She dropped to her knees and begged." Varys remarked.

Ned couldnt picture that. Rieka was not one to beg she was one to fight. She must truly be scared. Or desperate. Ned sighed kneading his hands together, Rieka on her knees begging for him to be released. 

"Cersei is no fool she knows a Wolf is useful to her more alive, than a dead one.' Varys went on.

'Do you want me to serve the woman who killed my king? who butchered my men? who crippled my son?' ned questioned incredulously.

'I want you to serve the realm.' he shouted 'tell the queen you will confess your vile treason and tell your son to lay down his sword and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir that he is. Cersei knows you as a man of honor if you give her the peace she needs and promise to carry her secret to the grave I believe she will allow you to take the black and allow you to live out your days there with your bastard son.' Varys informed him.

'You think my life is some precious thing to me? That I would trade my honor for a few more years... Of what? You grew up with actors you learn the craft and you learned well.' Ned told him 'but I grew up with soldiers. I learned how to die a long time ago.'

'Pity,' varys said 'such a pity. what of your daughters life.... my Lord? is that a precious thing to you?'

+

Rieka lay curled up beside Petyr, he ran a hand along her side as Rieka pet Avalon's soft fur. She had so many questions so many unknown possibilities but she was scared to ask any of them. She didnt think she would like the answer, so she held to Avalon and Petyr finding strength in them. 

"Do you need anything?" Petyr questioned as she shifted laying her head on his chest. 

"Just you."  Rieka assured. She had grown used to Petyr being beside her. Falling asleep next to her, his body warm beside her. She liked it, she wondered what would happen when this was over and their father was released, if he would go home, to the wall, she didnt know, she could only hope he would be released. She knew she couldnt stay here, they would never be safe but she didnt want to leave Petyr either. 

So she was going to take it one day at a time. Breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat until she wasnt scared of what the future held.