Game of Dragonborn.

Chapter 86 - A Conversation with Lord Stark.

[Chapter Size: 2300 Words.]

Third Person POV.
Kingsland.

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"Promise me, Ned... Promise me..."

Lyanna's voice echoed in Ned Stark's mind as he remained alone in the darkness of his empty cell. His only company was the oppressive silence, and his thoughts were in chaos after everything that had happened.

They hadn't even put him in a proper cell, keeping him in that dungeon instead, as everyone was occupied with the king's burial. They were probably discussing how he was a traitor or how he had tried to seize the throne—that he had planned Robert's assassination... The idea that he had attempted to usurp the throne with Jon's help was absurd.

He didn't know what to think. His men had been slaughtered before his eyes. Littlefinger, with his cynical smile, had pressed a knife to his throat and whispered that he should never have trusted him...

His men had fallen one by one, betrayed and massacred by the city guards serving _____. And the queen... She had just smiled.

Ned felt a crushing weight of guilt. Not only for the death of his men, but because his daughters were still there, in danger. He should have been more careful.

He hadn't foreseen that Sansa might side with the queen and reveal his plans, believing she was securing her marriage to the prince. He didn't know what had happened to Arya, but he hoped she was safe.

The situation outside the castle wasn't any better. There was Jon, and beyond him, his wife had made a mistake with Tyrion Lannister, and now Tywin wanted retaliation.

He didn't know what was worse.

"Where did I go wrong to end up here...?" he murmured as he began to hear footsteps approaching from the darkness.

"That's a good question, but only you can answer that, Uncle."

The figure then emerged from the shadows, and as Lord Stark looked at him, his eyes widened upon seeing who was there.

His nephew, Jon.

"You..."

"Am here? Of course I am. Did you think I would miss the chance to speak with you in this state?" Jon said, looking at him, almost amused by Lord Stark's condition.

"You're behind all those rumors... behind the attack on Robert. You acted savagely, cutting off his limbs..." Lord Stark murmured, looking at him in disgust, but Jon didn't care.

"I didn't lie about the rumors, I just thought it would be interesting for the people to know the truth about those who govern them. Isn't it interesting? Varys, in the end, takes orphaned children and turns them into sneaky spies crawling through the hidden walls of the Red Keep after mutilating them. Or Pycelle, taking advantage of young girls... Not to mention Petyr Baelish, who seems to have a fetish for wanting to sleep with your wife, aside from the fact that he's been stealing from the crown through the loans he's taken from the Iron Bank..." Jon said, watching Lord Stark, who didn't respond.

"In my view, I'm playing a fundamental role for the common people, the nobles, and even for you and the realm." Jon spoke with an ironic tone.

"How do you know all of this?" Lord Stark finally asked, looking directly at Jon.

"I did the same as Varys's spies. After learning all the secret paths, I started exploring the Red Keep... But I ended up seeing some unpleasant things too—like Pycelle surrounded by prostitutes, brought in secretly, and even the queen fucking her own cousin. Did you know that the king was slowly poisoned by Lancel Lannister himself while he was out hunting?" Jon said.