Realization

Realization

Eddard POV

"I am fine, Lord Stark," Theon told me again.

"You have been asleep for six days," I replied to him.

"I had a nice dream," He told me with a smile.

I didn't believe him. Seeing his trembling hands and his tired eyes, how could I believe him? He almost died. He killed for the first time, even if it was in self-defense, and he probably realized it only now. There was nothing I could do to help him. He's a man grown already, but I could only see him as a lost child, not knowing what to do.

"You are staying in this room until I am sure that you are fine," I told him.

"And how is that going to help me?" He asked me. "I promise I won't leave the Tower and only have a walk."

"Fine, Harwin will come with you," I told him and left.

I was still the Hand of the King. I had duties to attend to, and it only got worse with Lord Baelish found dead. Tyrion was his replacement. I still remember what Lord Baelish said about Tyrion, and now he was dead. It couldn't be a coincidence.

First, it was Jon Arryn, now Lord Baelish. Lannisters are trying to hide something. What it was, I couldn't even imagine. Did Lord Baelish warn me or use me for his safety? Questions plague me every night, and they only increased daily.

"Lord Stark," Tyrion spoke to me in the small council room. He was first to come after me.

"Tyrion," I greeted him back.

"Before everyone else comes, I would like to ask about Lord Baelish," Tyrion told me.

"What do you want to know?" I asked.

"The accounts don't add up," He replied. "I hear he talked with you before. Maybe you know something about how he got gold so easily."

"I know nothing about his dealings and whatnot," I responded.

Even if I knew anything, I wouldn't tell him. He was digging for information already, probably to find out that Lord Baelish had revealed the Lannisters' secrets to someone else. I needed to watch what I said around him.

Soon other members of the council arrived, and the meeting began. There wasn't anything new today, but I could see Lord Varys acting strangely. I might have imagined it, but he seemed wary of me. Was he working with the Lannisters?

"Lord Renly," I called out to the Master of the Law. "Is there any new development in the investigation of Lord Baelish's death?"

"Unfortunately, no," He informed me. "Witnesses have noticed a gold cloak entering the brothel when we believe Lord Baelish was killed. The problem is that we found a member of the city watch dead just outside the previously mentioned brothel, without his armor and cloak."

"I see. Let me know if you find anything else," I told Renly.

"If gold cloaks can't protect themselves, how will they protect the city?" Tyrion asked. "I think we need to invest more gold into the city watch. What do you think, Lord Hand?"

Is he trying to buy the gold cloaks? But why? Have Lannisters become desperate? I need to find out what Jon Arryn knew. I need to do it fast. It feels that with every day, I am becoming more unsafe.

"If there is gold, but I don't see a reason for now," I answer Tyrion.

"As I see, Lord Bealish's body just got cold. I wouldn't want something like that to happen to me," He told me. "We need to secure King's Landing. Next time, it might be one of your guards, Lord Stark, killed when he visits a brothel or a blacksmith."

It was a threat. The Lannisters knew that I was sending my guards to investigate the movements of Jon Arryn. There was no time left. If the Lannisters strike, it would be my children first. I need to get them out before it is too late.

"My guards can take care of themselves," I told him with a cold voice. "Now, if it's all, you are dismissed."

"Oh, my lord," Lord Varys began talking. "Yoren of the night's watch would like to meet the King before leaving."

"I will see you do it," I replied.

After everyone left, I went straight to see Ser Andar Royce. He was a good young man, honorable and skilled. Bran was delighted to serve as squire to him. I promised Lord Yohn that I would send Bran to foster with him in a few years.

"Lord Stark," Ser Andar greeted me when I entered the courtyard. "Bran is practicing archery with Theon if you want to see him."

"No, it's fine," I told him. "I want you to prepare to leave at any moment."

"My lord?" He looked at me, confused.

"Jory, Alyn, and Harwin of my guard will help you in any way," I told him. "I will let Theon know about it too. I fear that it isn't safe for my children to stay in the King's Landing anymore."

Ser Andar looked at me understandably. For now, it wouldn't be any good to bring attention to me, so I left. On the way to my solar, I tasked my guards not to leave the Tower for some time. Entering my solar, I took the book. This book was the only clue I had to find out what the Lannisters were hiding.

I read this book a dozen times already. I know the houses of Westeros better than anyone else. Still, I couldn't understand what I should be looking at, what Jon Arryn saw in it. After reading it one final time, I put the book down and left to have dinner.

Sansa and Arya, as always, started to bicker about something. I was too tired to even listen to them and let them be. Theon was the one who stopped it. He looked down on the girls with a cold face as mine was. I hate how with each day, he becomes more distant and colder.

"You're just jealous of Joffrey. He will become a King and I a Queen, while you only be able to rule some barren islands," Sansa spitefully said to Theon.

"You think too much of a lion cub, a man like Joffrey will not last long as a King. When he's done, you will be forgotten, away from home and alone," Theon told Sansa in a cold, emotionless voice.

"Enough. If you are not hungry, go to your rooms," I told the girls.

When it had become standard for the girls to argue at every dinner, I realized how Cat worked hard to control them. Bran was quiet, not wanting to get into one of the girls' arguments, which I understood more than I wished.

"Theon, could you come to my solar after you are done?" I asked Theon, who only nodded.

Back in my solar, I didn't find anything else to do but look at the book once again. I could feel something was in this book that proved Lannister's betrayal. Before I could lament on it more, Theon came. He only took one glance at the book and then looked at me.

"You wanted to see me?" Theon asked.

"Yes," I answered. "After what happened to you, I come to a decision."

"What decision?" He asked, interested.

"After we come back to the Winterfell, I will let you go," I told him.

"I am sorry to sound ungrateful, but that is the stupidest thing I heard," Theon replied. "You can't just let me go. I am your hostage, and if you think Balon Greyjoy will be thankful to you, you are severely mistaken."

"Can I stop you from leaving on your own?" I asked.

"No, if I get a chance, I will be gone before you realize," Theon answered.

"Then you can go. I will let you go to the Whiteharbor," I told him. "From there, you will be able to get to any of Essos' free cities."

"What do you want me to do?" He asked. "Kill the lion prince. I can't just believe you give such a reward for nothing."

Before I could rebuttal him, a thought came to me. A lion, not a stag? Now that I think about it, Joffrey always was called a lion. I took the book and found the entrance to the Baratheon house. Black of the hair, blue of the eyes, black of the hair, black of the hair. Every single one, it couldn't be. I read it repeatedly, but only Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen don't have Baratheon's black hair or blue eyes.

I knew instinctively what it all meant. I couldn't unsee it now. This was madness that even the Mad King wouldn't think about it. It changes all. Now I understand why Jon Arryn has died. I stood by my table shocked, and only Theon's voice calling me shook me from my shock.

"I need you to bag your things and leave with my children," I told him.

"How much time do I have?" He asked and looked around.

"A day," I answered.

"I have a ship ordered," He told me in a loud voice. "I will take the children and go on the ship in the morning."

"You won't ask why order you do to so?" I ask.

"We are in danger; I can see from your face and tone," He answered. "Looking at the book page about Baratheons and you are stopping at the royal children, I can guess why."

Theon only took one look at the book and understood. Was I getting more foolish each day that I couldn't see it until now? No matter what, I have found the truth. Now it was time to tell Robert. I only had to get my children away from there. I couldn't let the Queen use them.

"I would suggest going to Lord Renly," Theon told me. "You alone won't be able to take on the Lannisters."

"Is already late," I spoke. "I will go speak to Renly and then order my guards to follow your order in taking my children away from there."

"Write an order. I take three guards and see if I can recruit more men to get out of the city," Theon replied loudly. "The ship will only leave in the late morning."

"Very well, Jory, Alyn, and Harwin will come with you," I told him.

After writing the order and giving it to Theon, I took the book and thought about telling the King about this. I had to think of how to stop him from his rage. The children don't deserve this kind of fate. They were innocent.