Bringing the Dawn [IN EDITING]

***II.

Eddard Stark

Winterfell, 300 AC

Nerves was something Eddard Stark rarely experienced. From the day he was sent from Winterfell to foster at the Eyrie with Robert under Jon Arryn, all the way until the fateful day Howland had dishonourably killed Ser Arthur Dayne so they could gain access to the Tower of Joy. Each time in between, every battle fought, he only ever felt melancholy and adrenaline. But this was a day he had been preparing for the past sixteen years. He thought he would have it all mapped out and would be able to just get it all out in the open with little to no feelings other than sadness over his little sister and for lying. Ned hated lying, as it took away his prized value of honour. But when it comes down to it, the only people he would lie for would be his family.

And it was not a small lie. Seven hells, he remembers the moment he was told as Lyanna bled out on that bed. How she had rejected Robert but he refused her doing so thinking her to be joking. To her willingly running off in the middle of the night dressed as a servant girl towards Harrenton as she had remained at Raventree Hall to further relations with their distant Blackwood cousins where Rhaegar was waiting. To them making their journey to the Isle of Faces so they could wed under Lyanna's gods as the Targaryen Prince did not worship any. To them willingly running off to Dorne where Lyanna found out she was with babe, to her finding out Rhaegar had been defeated in the shallows of the Trident by Robert himself with a single crushing blow to the chest with his warhammer. Ned always knew that she did not care much for Robert, she had told him on numerous occasions that he was nothing but a pig-nosed whore fucker. However, the betrothal had been made many years prior, one he had suggested to their father after being raised as a brother to the man. Even now, a part of him despised himself for it and he was glad that he was not there when she was told who her intended was. Shivering at the thought of what his wild sister would've done had he been.

But tomorrow, the day he had been dreading for more than fifteen years had come. Jon would finally know the truth of not only himself but the truth of his parents. Not the one that Robert had spread with the help of his allies. From having informants, the Lord knew there were still Targaryen loyalists hidden in the dark. He'd tried on numerous occasions to get in touch with Daenerys and Viserys in Essos. But it seemed that every time he did, they had just left to escape Robert's sellswords. To think that sixteen years later his friend was still trying to rid the world of Targaryen's was not unsurprising. So long as they were still alive, Robert's throne was threatened. The whole time he knew Robert, he counted the man an incredibly good friend. But something changed when he had clapped Jaime Lannister on the back for stabbing Aerys in the back. And he could not forget his refusal to punish either Ser Gregor or Ser Amory for their work when they had watched Lannister men carry in the bodies of the babes wrapped in Lannister red. Jon's older half brother and sister. Kingslaying was one thing, Kinslaying worse, but childslaying was downright barbaric. It was said Aegon had been stabbed a few times before having his head crushed against a wall, and little Rhaenys had been stabbed half a hundred times.

Rhaenys had been three name days, and Aegon had only just had his first name-day a moon prior. Murdered to secure the man he considered a brothers recently required throne through his Targaryen grandmother. He remained civil with Robert for political reasons, but he did make him aware he did not approve of said actions. Not that Robert cared. He didn't want the throne, he wanted Lyanna. And the only way he was going to get Lyanna was to kill Rhaegar. It failed anyway, as the babe had gotten stuck at the shoulders and the midwife had to give his sister a choice to make an incision which could tear to create more space. His sister had agreed, and she had torn as the babe was pulled from her.

But there was one person he needed to tell prior to Jon. He'd need all the support possible to follow through on his promise to his sister, and his wife was one of his most trusted confidents. They told each other almost everything, and both did love one another deeply despite only meeting for the first time the day they married. The entire first year of their marriage, they had spent a measly three weeks with one another. With her falling pregnant on their wedding night, and him having to leave for war the following day. Then when he came back many months later with Lyanna's babe hidden as his bastard to meeting his own newborn Robb for the first time. He had no idea how she would react. Although, he was certain about one thing. Ultimately, she would support him. But it wasn't him who needed the support, it was his nephew. Because if the boy does decide to act upon his claim, the realm would bleed