Bringing the Dawn

XI.

Eddard Stark

Kings Landing, 299AC

The last time Eddard Stark had entered Kings Landing, he swore he would not set foot in the foul city again. Yet here he was, right back to the place where he first saw the man he considered a great friend for who he really was. How he had been blinded for so long was lost to him, but the past cannot be unwritten. When they were approaching, Sansa's eyes were wide in wonder and Arya was much the same but not as much as her elder sister. At least that was something that would work out, Sansa was always more southern than northern, and she had time to shine whilst she was here. But she would have to learn that life isn't all sunshine and daisies, and she will need to learn that soon.

He expected the whole thing with Lady to be enough to open her eyes to this, but it wasn't. Ever since he had taken the blade to his daughter's wolf on Robert's orders she could barely even look at him, clearly blaming him for what happened alongside Arya. But he had to get her alone to warn her of the dangers of the capital. She cannot go on with these thoughts and idealisations. He thought the capital may have changed since Aerys was killed as he didn't care for the smallfolk at all- taking them and burning them alive for his own amusement often.

So, to say he was shocked that the city seemed worse than then was not a nice thought. They were miles away when the putrid stench of shit reached their nostrils, both girls immediately gagging at it. The gates were better fortified which was to be expected as anyone can enter the city, but it did strike Ned odd that all standing guard were wearing red and gold. Were there no Baratheon men manning the walls? Perhaps they took it in turns every few hours. Once they had reached the Dragon Gate, all bundled out of the wheelhouse and dismounted from their horses to enter the capital.

To think this city didn't even exist only three hundred years prior, it's now larger than Oldtown and Lannisport combined and a population the same as what the North is as a whole. They were escorted through numerous streets, it not escaping his notice they were avoiding Flea Bottom, getting closer to the huge castle. The last time he had been in the Red Keep was when he proclaimed Jon as his bastard and with his sisters bones in a chest, the time before that being when he and Robert fell out over the murders of Aegon, Rhaenys, and Elia. Ned closed his eyes and breathed deeply, remembering Jon's words just before he left.

Don't do anything stupid, you're the only father figure I have.

He knew he would find no allies in these cursed streets. It wasn't unknown that everyone in Kings Landing is a liar and nobody is to be trusted. The further away they got from Flea Bottom, the better the stench got and by the time they had reached the gates surrounding the castle, it was almost completely gone. Sansa and Arya were looking up in wonder at the large turrets and the bright red bricks which made the building stand out against the cream of most other buildings in the capital.

"My Lord, a raven just arrived from Winterfell."

He turned to Jory and held his hand out to take it, deciding to wait until he was in his own chambers before opening it to see its contents. The last one he received was worrying, and it set him on edge. Jon had apparently saw someone in the tower when Bran fell, and Catelyn found a clump of curly blonde hair that wasn't yet dirty- confirming it had not been there for long. Her telling him to be careful as she suspected something was going on. It took him reading it numerous times to get the hidden meaning of the letter, but it only set dread deeper into his mind.

"Father, look how big it is!"

He laughed a little at Arya's words as they made their way to the entrance of the castle. Jon's ancestor built this- an ancestor renowned for his cruelty. But there was no denying the architecture involved was an incredible sight. Already, the sweltering heat of the south was getting to him, and he could tell it was getting to Jeyne too as she was fanning her face with her hands. Something Sansa was scoffing at as it's not exactly ladylike to do so.