Lords of Men

(A/N: I saw a lot of you guys misunderstood the goal but... like... you violated it anyway.)

Eddard Stark grimly looked at the main gates to the Red Keep, leaning on his cane as he attempted to appear controlled and stoic.

Even calling them gates felt improper when he considered their current states.

These bastions, defenses that stood the test of time since when the Red Keep was first constructed had never truly been breached, by-passed, certainly, but never brought down in such a manner.

Even recently, when Tywin Lannister invaded and pillaged King's Landing, ending the collapsing reign of the Mad King Aerys, these gates had only opened to treachery and betrayal, not to force or siege.

He ran his gaze through the populated courtyard as men hid from his gaze, content to whisper as they mused over whatever had caused this devastation.

Now however, those same gates had been torn asunder by a force that couldn't possibly be attributed to the works of man.

The road was burnt, the wall over them had collapsed, crushing a number of Lannister men in the process, while the massive iron doors themselves were torn clean off the hinges and sent tumbling into the homes of smallfolk beyond them.

Half the city had heard the noise, and even now, as the City Watch stood like a wall, holding back the curious peasants, the damage had been done.

It wasn't just a new vulnerability, no, those tall gates had been the symbol of the Crown's infallible nature... The one thing that kept the vast Seven Kingdoms in line.

Now, with the keep breached by sources unknown... Hm, Eddard couldn't help but let his mind wander.

Perhaps it was indeed the Gods themselves who would not see a bastard crowned.

"We must press this to our advantage." Eddard's thoughts were interrupted by a quiet whisper from Petyr Baelish, who'd gone from a small lord from the Vale to the Master of Coin for the Iron Throne.

Truth be told, he didn't appreciate the man's sly nature... but he trusted his wife, and he would trust her word.

"Let them be distracted by this while we usurp control." Petyr suggested calmly, his hands behind his back and his head held up high.

His clothes were expensive leather, and his hair was swept back, smelling of oil.

That made sense, Eddard supposed, he was slender and small, yet in the court, one had to appear strong and steadfast.

"It is not usurpation, Lord Baelish." Eddard corrected with a sideways glance, "It is what is right."

Petyr stopped for a moment, before smiling wryly, "As you say, Lord Stark. We may deal with this matter in due time. I do believe it to be an opportunity, one we can take advantage of."

Eddard nodded, once again noting the smell of burnt flesh and wet soil... It looked like it would rain this morn.

Before he could do anything else, a smaller man in black mail walked up to him, holding a hand over the hilt of his sword, "Lord Stark, I've found one that claims to have seen what happened."

Eddard raised his brow.

There'd been many of those, each with accounts more far fetched than the one that came before them.

Some claimed they saw a dragon, others said the Gods themselves had struck down the gate...

"Out with it, then." Eddard wasn't one to mince words.

"Boy! Come out here!" The golden-cloaked man of the City Watch turned around halfway, shooting a glare at a Lannister man.

Hm... this account would have to be taken with a grain of salt.

"Y-Yes, m'lord!" The boy ran up to them, cradling a bent helmet and melted sword, "I-It was a man!"

What?

Suddenly, it clicked.

Syrio had reported that Karl had left with his daughters some time before dawn, the trail of mutilated bodies and empty rooms were testament to that claim... and also things that were overlooked by the Crown Prince and his mother due to the severity of what had happened to the gates.

Eddard supposed that wouldn't remain the case for too long.

"A man, you say?" He repeated with furrowed brows.

Perhaps Karl has seized the opportunity to make his escape?

That would also make the man the only one who could possibly confirm what happened.

"Y-Yes, m'lord. I was making me rounds when he came riding on a warhorse... He lopped lightning at the gates and they exploded, they did. I swear on me mum, it's the truth, m'lord." Beads of sweat rolled down the boy's face as he sputtered words that made him sound like he was mad.

Petyr let out a small chuckle, "The boy's clearly delirious. He's in serious need of a bed if he thinks a man could do..." He gestured to the damage with one of his hands, "This."

Eddard opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted before he could.

"What the hell happened here?!"

By the same crown prince they were trying to stop.

A boy with golden Lannister hair and green eyes, like his parents.

"You there." He pointed to a random soldier, "Explain."

A true bastard if ever one there was.

Eddard clenched the hand he had around his cane, "Let us begin."

His daughters were safe, that was all that mattered.

-

Turned out it wasn't all that hard to figure out where to go once I got out of King's Landing after all.

I rode on the first road I could note down till the Sun came up then used it's position to figure out which way was North... I wager that's where the capital of the Kingdom largely referred to as the North probably is.

I've encountered a few more soldiers since then, but most of them were passing and paid no real attention to the 6 and a half feet tall man riding a warhorse at full gallop... which was, incredibly smart on their part if the state of the men I encountered in the castle was anything to go by.

Arya went to sleep a little while after I left, peppering me with questions I just didn't answer till she went silent.

Now, all I really needed to do was stop at an inn and confirm my directions.

Looking at the sprawling fields all around me, the cloudy sky, and the chirping of birds on the hunt for food... I admit, so far as new worlds go, this one has been extremely enjoyable for me so far.

But I guess it isn't much of a competition when the only other competitor is one where I got torn apart by a pack of stray dogs about half an hour in.

I sighed at the thought.

"Hopefully, I'm done with that." I commented, noticing a castle in the distance.

I'll avoid that one.

Going by what I've noticed so far, it's definitely tied to House Lannister one way or the other and isn't worth the trouble at all.

Making up my mind, I picked up the pace once again.

The road I was using was relatively well-maintained, it had a degree of traffic I didn't expect from medieval society and hell, it was even properly fenced at some points.

Most of the people I encountered during the ride were either traders, or farmers hauling their goods... whatever they do, I don't know.

The point was, they steered well clear of me.

-

It was noon when I rode into what looked to be an inn... it was clean enough, and had a small tether for good old Roach but... hm, it'd look odd if I walked in there with a girl slung over my shoulder.

I couldn't leave her on the horse either.

With a sigh, I nudged Arya awake with my shoulder, readying myself for another barrage of questions, "Come on, I need your help."

She rustled quietly, moving away from my back and looking around with half-shut eyes, "Mm... where?"

"We broke out of King's Landing, remember? Come on, we need to figure out where to go from here... unless you know the way to Winterfell?" I asked plainly, jumping off the horse and slinging Sansa over my shoulder again.

She's been unconscious for quite some time now... I'm starting to get worried.

Arya shook her head in denial, looking around curiously with an unexpected decisiveness I really wasn't expecting from someone her age, "Where are we?"

"Dunno, an inn by the looks of it." I shrugged, tethering Roach with my free hand, "We can get some food and ask for directions."

I don't get hungry, or need sleep, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy either of those things.

"So what are we going to do?" She asked with bright eyes, "Break in and take all they have like bandits?"

I narrowed my eyes, "...We're going to pay for it like normal people."

"Pay with what?" She quipped back, "Do you have the coin?"

"Good question."

One I don't have an answer to.

Scratching my chin in thought, I zeroed in on the golden rose-shaped brooch Sansa was wearing, "Is that valuable?"

"Is what valuable?" Arya followed my gaze slowly... and smiled mischievously, "Yes it is... but it's a gift from her *beloved* prince, so she thinks at least."

Well, that's fine then.

Her views about him are about to get shattered so it shouldn't matter much.

Without much hesitation, I grabbed the brooch and pocketed it, "We're trading this for goods."

Arya looked a little too happy with my decision.

-

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