Snake in Wolf's Clothing

Chapter 3

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281 AC, Starfall, Eddard Stark's POV

"And you couldn't tell me that Brandon married a Dornish Girl in secret before I agreed to marry Hoster Tully's Daughter," I asked.

Howland Reed, Brandon's former squire and my friend answered," Brandon made me swear not to tell a soul before he left for King's Landing."

"He looks a lot like Brandon, except for his eyes, must be his mother's." I said while cooing over Brandon.

Howland hummed noncommittally.

"It's weird though," As I looked questioningly, he elaborated,"Ashara, jumping out of the tower leaving her child."

"Lord Dayne says that for the first few minutes the child was not breathing. Coupled with grief for her lost brother and husband, she must have thought she lost everything."

"Well, at least you got what you wanted. Little Brandon here gets to be the Warden of the North while you get cozy with your lady wife in a castle or keep of your choosing."

"Yes, my wife who was offered to me on the concept of being a lord paramount." I grumbled.

"Expecting trouble from Hoster Tully?" Howland asked out of curiosity.

I sighed," He's going to through a fit for sure. Our marriage was on the assumption that his grandchildren would be Lords Paramount of the North and the Vale one day."

"I never liked the opportunistic son of a bitch anyway, refusing to join us in the rebellion unless he sells his daughters to two Lords of the Great Houses," Growled Howland.

"Well what do you expect? The Riverlands have been the Westerosi playground since the Age of Heroes, almost every war between the Great Houses has occurred on his lands. It seems somewhat logical to bind the North and the Eastern Houses to his family," I sighed.

"And I'm sure it has nothing to do with Lady Catelyn's tits," Said Howland amusedly.

"What, I-I Yes.. But—" –I Spluttered as I could feel my face glowing, discussing my Lady Wife, rather glorious, tits brought back pleasant memories- "Shut up, Howland"

"He's going to raise Hell, you know," Said Howland nodding at the other bundle snuggled firmly in furs and strapped to a wet nurse chest.

"I know"

"Not even Brandon, the Wild Wolf, had a bastard."

"I know!"

"So when the honorable Ned Stark gets a bastard who's only 2 months younger than your trueborn son, People are definitely going to ask questions"

"I know, Reed. I know damn it!"

Howland trotted off in front of us while laughing loudly.

281 AC, King's Landing

We've been traveling for almost two weeks now, carefully avoiding any angry Dornishmen. Thinking about Dorne made me angry almost immediately. Although I knew that the biggest threat to our already fragile peace was the Targaryen children. I could never fathom my best friend justifying murder of children so brutally like that. But a missive from Jon Arryn, ordered us to pass through King's landing before we head back to Winterfell, as to mend our differences and deliver the grave news personally.

King's landing still smelled like shit, blood and dead people. While the city has somewhat began to heal from the sacking caused by the Lannisters. It's effect was still obvious.

As I started walking into the Red keep carrying two bundles on my strapped to my shoulders. I couldn't help but notice that little Brandon looked almost inquisitively to his surroundings. I wasn't the best person with children but I figured that parents speak to children from an early age to encourage speaking or something like that.