Chapter 2: Tower of Pain

Eddard Stark

Storms End

283AC

The army laying before my eyes was massive. The fact that when creating the hill I couldn't see the ends of the camp was surprising. I knew the Reach had a large number of men but this was far surpassing what I expected. The army filled a small valley just outside the reach of the great keep go Storms End.

I could see colorful tents, most made of expensive silks, filling the camp every color of the rainbow. Many of these tents had heraldry stitched to them. The camp was orderly but it showed signs that it had been here a while. Not the least was the smell that seemed to permeate everything. It was not Kingslanding bad but it was far from nice.

It was an impressive sight from the wealth and size of the camp but the massive keep behind the army was far more impressive. It towered over the army with walls seven stories tall. On the walls I could see ballista and catapults at the ready in case of an assault.

I had read that Stannis was a dedicated and dutiful leader. From the way my Myrish spyglass easily spotted a full rotation of soldiers on the wall it appeared to be the truth.

To be honest I wanted this to be over as fast as possible. Not the least reason that the longer this took the longer it will take me to arrive for Lyanna. If I can get there quickly enough I may be able to save her. But I knew that my injuries had already delayed me. How long did it take Eddard in the books to handle all of this? Nothing was ever given for the times spent in Robert's Rebellion. Now I had led a large army down the King's road to Storm's End.

The second reason was the troubling letter I received from Riverrun. I had a son, Rob Stark was born and I had an heir. That was wonderful news and the idea of the young wolf as my child was amazing. Of course I had never been a father so it filled me with conflicting feelings. It was something I would need to sort out in time. But I knew in my heart I would be a good father.

The troubling part of the letter was the fact that my wife was dead. Lady Catelyn Stark died in childbirth. She bled out after delivering Rob. It tore apart the future. It startled me and made me wonder how this change came to pass. There would be no Sansa and Arya. There would be no Bran to become the next three eyed raven. Hell with the woman dead that would mean there would be no catalyst to start the war of the five kings!

This further complicated the fact that I was now a widower. It was something my father-in-law put in the letter and suggested strongly that I let him raise Rob at Riverrun. Like hell that would happen. I would march the full army of the North there if I must in order to secure my heir. I would never let someone have that hold over me

Hell the bastard wasn't even a good father he sold off his daughters for power and has a useless son if the books were anything to go by!

No it would not be acceptable and I had already replied that it would not be. I let my good-father know that after the war ended I would be picking up my son. I even had Benjen ready some of the smaller forces of levies soldiers and shifted them in larger numbers to White Harbour and Moat Cailin.

The soldiers would be useful in the taking of the Three Sisters. It seems that Jon Arryn had plans for the small council and the master of coin already. So instead I honored Wyman by naming him the title of the Admiral of the North.

The fact that he was the only true naval power of the North was not lost on most of the Lords so there was little fighting over it. Further it allowed me to set the precedent of a future General of the Northern armies. My goal in the future was to establish a full army under the control of the Starks piece by piece. The more control I had of the army the stronger my defendants would control the North.

I could see the delegation of the Reach riding towards us. A large group of banners fluttering in the air from Hightower to Florents. It seemed they sent most of the Reach out to meet us. I let out a sigh and smiled towards a few of the lords of the North with me, "Are you ready to have your asses kissed?"

A loud snort came from my left as Lord Umber found amusement in my joke, "I would prefer a maiden doing it instead of the fat fuck Tyrell."

I chuckled back at his words with a small smile that I hid as moments later the Lord's of the Reach road before us.

The group of Reach Lords stopped their mounts twenty yards from us and dismounted. They slowly and cautiously walked forward with Lord Tyrell at the front of them.

"Lord Stark, we have received word from the capital that you would be coming." The large man's eyes slowly turned around to myself and the assembled lords that were with me.

"Indeed Lord Tyrell. The war is over in all but name. The Targaryens are gone. Their host has been destroyed and the capital is in the hands of good King Robert. I have been sent to bring you terms of peace." I spoke up and the silence allowed my voice to carry over the assembled lords.

I reached into my riding bag and handed over a scroll to young Jory Cassel. The boy had been working as a pseudo page for me since the North did not have knights. Another thing I was considering changing to give us more prestige. The young boy took the scroll and handed it over to Lord Tyrell. "The terms are what is required for peace from the crown. King Robert has stated the terms are non-negotiable."

I had been present during the decision on the terms for surrender for the Reach. I had personally given input in the price of grain, extended taxes, and finally the arranged marriage for my brother. That marriage would come with a huge dowery from House Hightower. It might be a little unfair to require a sum of over a hundred and fifty thousand dragons to be paid by House Tyrell and House Hightower. But the amount was listed to be paid to be put forth towards the construction of the canal. The proceeds of the taxes on the canal would be split three ways. I made sure that the new House the Benjen would found would receive sixty percent of the proceeds, House Stark would receive twenty five percent and finally House Hightower and House Tyrell would split receive fifteen percent for as long as young Benjen is alive. This would soften the blow of the costs of the canal as they would hopefully be paid back and even profit from it. Further House Hightower would be responsible for furnishing Moat Cailin to the standards of their daughters and Benjen's wishes.

The final requirement I insisted was that mason, engineers, shipwrights, artists and maesters would be sent to the North for the Winter City. Which is the name I have decided to rename Wintertown. My hope is that the labor sent would improve both future cities an help build a prosperous North. I plan to entice these people to keep them.

I kept silent as the eyes of the fat flower seemed to bulge at the requirements of the crown. It could have been worse as we didn't require hostages at the capital. But the taxes and fees would hurt the Reach for years to come. "Do you need time to think the terms over? I have been instructed I can give you till tomorrow morn. But I must insist that food be sent to Storm's End. I will not have Prince Stannis continue to be starved while you consider."

The regent of the Reach seemed to recover himself from his thoughts and gave a false smile. "Thank you Lord Stark. That would be acceptable terms. We shall send word on the morrow to meet up again."

"Very Well." With those words spoken we turned our mounts and created back over the hill. I knew they would accept the stipulations and they knew it as well. Honesty they had little choice in the matter but making those important lords feel that they had a choice would help to end this war the sooner. That was what was important.

I needed the war over and the sooner the better as I wanted to begin my plans to reshape the North because the true enemy was coming from the North and I needed to be ready.

The Reach lords had agreed and I road out from there shortly afterwards towards the Tower of Joy. I took with me Fifteen men at arms all of whom were heavily armed including crossbows. Lord Reed insisted on coming with me and in the show he saved my life so I saw no reason to fault that.

I had ordered Lord Karstark to take the men and return to the capital to meet us on our return. From the capital I planned to take the armies of the North back to Riverrun and get my son. I had no intention to let the trout lord keep my boy hostage on me. I would make sure that I got young Rob safe home in the North.

It had taken two weeks of hard travel rotating two horses each on a force march but we were finally here. I could see the tower hidden by the cliffs in the background. It stood on a large rock hill and overlooked a dry valley that once had a creek running through it. I could see why it had not been in use by a house in a century as the creek seemed to have dried up.

"Lars take ten of the men and circle that hill. Ready the crossbows and If there is trouble take your shots. I want to surprise them if there is any issues understood?" I ordered the veteran guardsman of Winterfell. From my memories of Eddard he was a solid solider.

"Yes my Lord." The man saluted me with a fist against the ring mail over his heart then he took those best at the crossbow with him.

"Hold here for a time to let them get into position." I ordered the rest of my men as Lars had his men tie up their mounts then run on foot through the sands to find a secure location.

"If I am right Howland there is three missing Kingsguard that may be there. As good as I am with Ice I do not like those chances hopefully the crossbowmen will even the odds." I said to my friend. The small man honestly was a joy to speak with from Eddard's memories.

"It would be better if we do not have to fight them." Howland answered with a frown.

"I agree. But those men are fanatics and there is nobody as unreasonable as a fanatic. If they followed orders while men and women were burnt before them for the enjoyment of the mad king, why would they now abandon their oaths to keep us from my sister?" I asked to him.

For a time the crannogman stayed quiet before he spoke softly so only I could hear, "I wonder more Ned why they are here in the first place."

That was why I liked Howland. He was smart and careful with his words, "I think we both know why even if I hope I am wrong."

The signal came from Lars that they were in position. It was a small piece of glass that he used to twist to get the light to shine off of it back towards me. "Let's go and be ready for anything."

The men tensed up as they moved close to their Lord and followed on their mounts slowly behind. We road around the bend of the hill into direct view of the Tower of Joy. I didn't slow the speed of our mounts till be arrived in what would be the yrs of the tower. When I arrived I had expected to see the white brothers. In the show this was where the battle was located at. But there was nobody there.

The Tower was silent with only the rustling of the hot breeze blowing dried weeds about the courtyard. I turned and pointed at two of my men, "Jakob and Ben go and check the stables over there see if there are any mounts."

I glared around watching for any ambush. I didn't like the open position that we were in but something didn't feel right here. I dismounted and pulled out Ice just in case a move my remaining three men followed as they readied themselves. I glanced at Howland and motioned with my head towards the Tower.

I got a nod of understanding as we moved towards the entrance to the tower. If nothing else the walls at our back would give us shelter from attack from one angle at least.

We moved close and that was when I smelt something. The tower stank of death. It was the gagging sickly sweet smell of rotting meat. It was a decay that had settled on the place.

"My Lord there are no horses and the droppings appear to be at least a week old" The voice Ben sounded out breaking the silence of the place.

I grimaced and called out, "Ben get Lars down here."

I turned to a Howland and grimaced as my stomach turned over from nerves and the smell, "Let's go."

I lowered the hood of my helm and kicked the door. The door flung open as it was not barred by anything or even locked. The smell was a hundred times worse as I rushed into the small chamber at the base of the Tower.

There was two chambers to the east side of the room I motioned to the men to go into each room. The guardsmen each opened the doors and found two chambers both with doubled up straw beds that were empty. Otherwise the chambers were empty from anything. I knew from memories she would be at the top.

So I turned and rushed up the stairs quickly going past the second floor and third letting my soldiers with me take care of those floors. I reached the door do the fourth floor and shouldered the door open.

It was there that I found the cause of the smell. Hanging from the rafters was a rope that held up the body of naked young woman from her neck. Her skin was bloated and decaying having been left here for at least a week. Her eyes were wide open almost in shock at her death. I could see fingernail marks along her throat where she tried to claw the rope from her neck. It was a struggle to live and one she had failed.

It was my sister Lyanna Stark. It was sight of nightmares and one they would affect even a hardens veteran. It was understandable why I turned and lost any of the food in my stomach in the corner. I couldn't help puking up everything in my stomach and dry heaving. I had been prepared to find her and Jon Snow here. Not this!

Slowly, I pushed myself up off of the floor and grabbed hold of Ice. I swung the great sword and cut down Lyanna from the rope. She dropped with a splat as the bloated body infested with bugs hit the ground.

I couldn't turned my eyes off of her corpse. But Howland was better prepared he carefully pulled his cloak off of himself and laid it over her body.

As he did that I broke me eyes off of her and looked about the room. I saw the bed that was blood stained. It just had been where she gave birth to Jon, or was it Aegon? It mattered little because he wasn't here. The fucking Kingsguard not inky left her to die but made sure to kill my sister. They stole her child then murdered my sister.

Visions of a laughing and smiling young girl filled my eyes. Memories of a life I didn't love but knew from Eddard. I remember her sneaking out to climb the walls of Winterfell. I could remember a little girl from before fosterage where she skinned her knee and I helped her. Lyanna fighting with a sword or riding her horse. Her fighting with father about marrying Robert. A hundred different memories and before I knew it I could fee wetness sliding down my cheeks.

This was a seventeen year old girl that was tricked, raped for a child and now murdered. Her last moments of a child taken from and a hopelessness.

It was then that I promised myself I would have revenge.

Author note: A little different then normal cannon? I hope I can make things interest at least. The gamer system will be very light but it will come up more once we get to the North. Any thoughts or suggestions? I haven't betad this chapter yet but I will go back to fix them up.