Game of Dragonborn.

Chapter 85 - The traitor.

[Chapter Size: 2400 Words.]

Third Person POV.
Kingsland.

...

...

The bells began to ring in the city the next day, while the population woke up without the unrest of the previous day, for those bells only meant one thing. And no one could have been more surprised.

The king was dead. The news spread quickly throughout the city as everyone started hearing about it. He had passed away during the night due to an infection from the wounds he had suffered, continuing to accuse Jon Snow as the main suspect in the king's assault.

Conversations about it filled the streets, along with talk of the abuse committed by the city guard, as many people had been robbed by them.

This went on throughout the entire morning, with people unsure whether they should mourn or revolt—though most seemed to lean towards the latter, given all the rumors that had been circulating for nearly two weeks.

Lord Stark was deep in thought in his solar, gazing over the city at that moment, lost in contemplation after what had happened. He hadn't known how to react when he first heard the news—at the very least, he had panicked.

'But tell me... What do you plan to do? After all, the king is dying, and someone must take his place...'

'Because Pycelle did not give him the right diagnosis. I tell you... he is dying.'

The queen's words echoed in his mind. Of course, the Robert he had seen alive and well just the day before had died because of her scheme. He found himself in a complicated situation now, though he had been fortunate enough to foresee something like this. Last night, he had already begun preparations for his daughters to leave the city—tonight would be the night.

Ned's plan was to put anyone who could be taken as a hostage to manipulate him in safety, and most importantly, to ensure the protection of his daughters while he remained in the city and attempted to summon all the lords of Westeros for a great council. After all, he was still the Hand of the King and had power as such, despite the queen seeming intent on ignoring that.

But certainly, the death of his friend had shaken him—especially since his last memory of Robert was seeing him look at him with hatred, seeing Robert himself regard him as an enemy, a traitor.

Ned sighed, his thoughts in turmoil, and decided to leave the room, walking through the corridors.

"Lady Stark, your daughter has been waiting for you here for over an hour," Jory Cassel pointed to the girl standing in the hallway as soon as he saw his lord.

"Arya? Why are you waiting for me?" He approached his daughter, who stood still in the middle of the corridor.

"What will happen now that the king is dead?" she asked, nervous.

He knelt before her and tried to reassure her. "Everything will be fine, Arya, don't worry. Soon, you and your sister will go to the North."

"But Sansa said we're not going to the North... She said the queen promised her that she would marry Joffrey, now that he is going to take the throne. And... she was summoned by the queen early this morning..." Arya murmured.

Lord Stark immediately furrowed his brow. "She was? Why did no one inform me?" Ned asked, worried, his voice tense.

"Everyone was summoned and forced to follow the guards to the Red Keep, but I managed to escape. I tried to warn them here, but the guards said you were not to be disturbed. I was afraid to speak up..." Arya murmured, uncertain whether it was truly something to be concerned about or if she was merely bothering her father.