Naruto and the Game of Thrones

Chapter 2

The king's envoy and the Starks set up their camp at the Inn at the Crossroads. A popular inn for travelling as it lay by the crossroads marking the joining of the Kingsroad, River Road and the High Road.

One thing that Edwyn benefited from being neglected was the freedom he got. There were no duties that he was supposed to perform nor was he constantly mothered by Cersei.

Going over to the woods, Edwyn wrapped his hands with strips of cloth that were made heavier by seals. Similarly, he had his shins wrapped with weighted cloth.

He quickly found a tree with a thick trunk and began punching and kicking it with utter fluidity. Edwyn was frighteningly strong. So the wrappings around his hands and shin weighed several hundreds of pounds.

The poor tree stood no chance as Edwyn pounded it till the trunk was thrashed off and only a stump was left rooted into the ground. Sighing, he moved towards the next tree.

Edwyn was on his fifth tree when he heard a commotion nearby. Intrigued, he made his way towards the source of the noise and found his half-brother Joffrey showing his superiority towards a nine or ten-year-old kid, who was actually Arya Stark.

A fat and timid boy was shaking in his boots, Arya's wolf was snarling at Joffrey and Sansa Stark was failing in her miserable attempts to stop things from escalating. Edwyn sighed and walked away from the situation. There was no need to get involved in Joffrey's another bout of madness. When he thought about what the Starks had gotten themselves involved in, all he felt was indifference.

'Why the fuck should I care?'

Later that day he heard that Sansa's dire wolf was ordered to be killed by the king himself. Edwyn suddenly had an evil idea in his mind and walked towards Ned Stark who was returning to his tent.

"Lord Stark, I see you've returned after slaying a defenceless beast, that too, a beast that represents your house."

Ned's head snapped towards him and growled, "I ask you not to mention it, prince Edwyn."

Edwyn tilted his head and smirked, "Oh? It seems you're not too happy doing as the king said. It's like every king has something against you Starks. The last king killed your father and brother while this one went for the animal of your sigil. I don't know what madness took over you that you agreed to become his hand."

Ned narrowed his eyes and said, "What are you insinuating?"

Edwyn chuckled and replied, "King's Landing is a cesspit of corruption and politics. Every day someone is plotting some other person's death. The lion has it's jaw around the stag's neck. The wolf needs to abandon what defines him if he wants to survive. Sometimes, you need to look beyond what you see, Lord Stark."

As Ned thought about what Edwyn had said, the red-eyed prince continued, "Have you ever wondered why I wasn't made the crown prince?"

'Come on Stark, let me know if you are worthy of my respect.'

Lord Stark stared intently at Edwyn and nodded, "I already know why."

"And do you agree with it?"

Ned stared into Edwyn's eyes and replied, "Aye."

All kind of warmth left Edwyn eyes as it was replaced with cold fury.

In an icy tone and with barely controlled anger, Edwyn said, "I see. Huh! To think I had respect for you. We shall never talk again. As my parting words to you, I say this. Your decision to be the hand of the king will be your doom."

Edwyn stormed away as he finished saying what he wanted to.

'... This time the tourney will be bloody. I hope I face some Stark men.'