Chapter 40

Tommen was still very weak. He had almost died twice since they left King's Landing. His son almost bled out and then a fever took a hold of his body. He hallucinated and shivered for a week. Ned stood with him and watched as his son fought death.

The shipmen left them at Gulltown. They were unable to continue their journey North. They had no money left. Ned nodded when the captain informed him they would not continue to White Harbor.

Tommen was pale and it was clear he would need more than a few weeks to recover. His sons were not weak; they had never been sickly. Ned wasn't used to Tommen being so defenseless.

"Father, I don't think I can walk any longer." Shaggydog helped his master stand. Tommen leaned into the beast who licked the boy. The direwolf was great help. He hunted and served as protector for both Tommen and him.

They made their way to Saltpants. Ned had grown a beard, as so did Tommen, although his was less hairy and much fairer than his.

The news around the Riverlands was that he was dead and a traitor. Robb and Lannister had raided the queen's ancestral home and were to leave for King's Landing soon. Renly Baratheon had the strength of the Stormlands and the Reach. He proclaimed he was King of the Seven Kingdoms. There was no news of his daughters and Gendry yet. No one knew what Stannis planned, if he decided to back Renly or seek the throne as the rightful heir. Ned hoped Tommen was correct and the girls reached Dragonstone. He prayed to his gods Stannis realized Gendry was the true heir and king of the Seven Kingdoms.

"We'll find an inn soon." Ned helped him up and half carried him to the Crossroads Inn. He remembered staying here decades ago when Brandon was still alive and they visited Catelyn for the first time.

The place was filled with Lannister men. Eddard Stark could say it was the first time he was glad to see the golden lion against the red field. He could hear the men singing that blasted song that Cersei liked so much.

"And so he spoke, and so he spoke

that Lord of Castamere

but now the rains weep o'er his halls

with no one there to hear

Yes now the rains weep o'er his halls

And not a soul to hear."

Ned didn't frown and welcomed the loud singers. They would take him and Tommen to the encampment. He needed to see Lord Lannister and join him. Tommen would of course go North and comfort Cersei. They all thought him dead. His lioness needed to know the truth. He would fight and make sure Gendry ascended to the throne, as was his right. Robert and him fought a war for that throne and Eddard would make sure Gendry remained there.

He didn't recognize any of the men there. The innkeeper looked annoyed, betrayed to have all those strange men in her inn. Tywin Lannister was ruthless. The lord of Winterfell was sure his father in law sent the Cleganes first. He needed to get Robb and Jon under order. They were not Lannisters. They were Starks and would not murder, rape and steal as if they had no honor. Stories of horror and pain filled the Riverlands most of them involved Lannister men committing atrocities in their wake. He would sort his children and lead his men away from the Lannister men if he had to.

Tommen looked at him pleadingly. They had travelled two weeks without rest, hunting and sleeping on hard grounds. The days grew shorter and colder. Winter was coming too soon.

Ned approached a man of slight build. He was blonde and looked a lot like Lannister twenty years ago. "Take us to Lord Lannister."

The young man sputtered. "I do not speak with peasants." Of course he was an arrogant little shit. They all were.

Eddard lost his patience rather quickly. He grabbed the boy by his tunic and pulled him close. "Take me to Tywin Lannister now." He spat. The whole lot quieted and pointed swords at him. Tommen paled even more. Shaggydog circled his master and growled at the men.

"How dare you touch me filthy bastard?" The little shit lost his courage when Ned tightened his hold on his neck.

He felt as two men grabbed his arms and punched him in quick succession.

"Stop." Tommen yelled. Shaggydog growled and mauled a man who tried to get near Tommen.

The little shit spoke once more. His voice was strained. "Take them to the camp. Hold the beast down too."

Eddard complied with the men and was escorted out the inn. The men and the Lannister had horses. They tried to get close to Shaggydog but the direwolf growled and bit a man's hand.

"Let the beast with the boy. Once we reach camp we'll cage it properly." The men must know they were important. Direwolves were not common. They must have seen Grey Wind by now. If the rumors were any accurate Robb and Lannister were still around these parts.

They rode for a day and half until they reached Harrenhal. Tommen had a fever and looked worse by the hour.

They reached the massive castle. The encampment was massive. He realized Jon must be there as well. He saw some of his bannermen and a lot of Westerners.

His son stumbled and fell to the ground. He saw Alysane Mormont by a fire. She was a mother. She could know about fever and herbs. "Alysane." He barked.

The woman turned and saw him. She smiled. "Lord Stark." She came to his side at once.

The men stepped away from him and Tommen. They looked at the Mormont woman with wary eyes. "Good." He thought.

"Find the woman, the Volantese woman now." She said and motioned for two men to help her carry Tommen to a tent. Eddard followed them.

They put in in a cot and left the room. "Your sons are here. We prepare to storm King's Landing in three days."

Ned nodded and was glad to finally be in the right place. This senseless war would end once and for all. He was made for this, for war. They all were; Lannister, Stannis and him. They would reclaim the throne for Gendry. Stannis would become the Lord Hand and he would go back North to Cersei, where he belonged.

The woman entered. She carried bandages and a case.

"All of you leave now. I need space." She said hurriedly without looking at any of them but at Tommen. Alysane left and pulled him out of the tent.

"She is the best, better than any maester I have seen." The girl said. She wanted to say more but seemed to think better of it and left.

Ned turned and saw his sons running. They were in armors but looked like the boys who ran to him whenever he came back from the Karhold or the Dreadfort after a few days of not seeing each other.

Robb was the first to reach him and hug him. Jon hugged him too. He laughed, his dark eyes sparkling with happiness.

Some of the soldiers looked at them. Cersei would condemn her son's behaviors. "You're alive." Robb was crying.

He smiled. "Your brother isn't well."

"Tommen is here. You have Tommen." Jon laughed. He looked giddy with happiness.

More people stared openly. Ned smiled. "Stay with your brother. He's inside there." Robb hugged him once more and entered the tent.

"Find me a tent." He said to his oldest son. Jon nodded and led him to a big tent.

"These are my quarters." Jon said.

"What do you need?" His son asked immediately.

"A bath, clothes and for you to tell me exactly what is happening." Eddard said as he divested his filthy clothes.

A maid set up the tub and left quickly. The lord of Winterfell stepped in the tub and relished the hot water against his skin. He was in need of a bath and nourishment.

"Tell me." He said and looked at his son. The boy looked older, he was growing a beard too.

"Lord Lannister sent one of his nephews to alert mother. I called the banners and met Lannister in the Neck. Soon after I received the summons from queen Catelyn. She accused you of regicide and conspiracy against the crown. The Seven Kingdoms believes you to be a traitor and murderer."

Ned remembered Baelor's Sept and the people of King's Landing jeering at him and most of all he remembered Catelyn's stony face. He remembered each of her words, her lies against his person and his family.

"No. Tell me about your mother. How is she? Does she believe me dead?" All he could think about was her, his wife.

Jon nodded. "Uncle Tyrion arrived safely. We just received the ravens. Mother gave birth to a healthy boy. She wasn't well but she's better now. She thinks you're dead."

Eddard felt his heart on his throat. "Birth?"

His son didn't look at him. "She was pregnant when you left. The baby is fine. His name is Rickon, the pregnancy wasn't easy on her. I left when she started showing." The lord of Winterfell did not have time to process the news. His son spoke more and more.

"Robb and I learned of your execution. Lord Lannister and his host procured the Twins for us. I had to marry a Frey girl. Uncle Tyrion wedded lady Sansa of Arryn." Ned looked confused but remained quiet.

"Uncle Jaime and Robb secured the Riverlands. The North is ours still. I left Moat Cailin secured with Mormonts and some of our forces. The Greyjoys tried to invade the North. I sent half the Hornwoods back to strengthen the forces around Moat Cailin, Deepwood Motte and the North."

"What is Balon claiming?" Eddard asked as he scrubbed the filth away from his skin.

Robb stormed in. "He's sleeping. Lady Talisa patched him up and gave him some herbs." He looked happy. He smiled and reminded Ned of Cersei when she was happy. She would have a manic grin on her face like the one their son sported now.

"Sit down. Next to your brother now." Ned needed to hear all the developments in his absence. He was ecstatic to see the boys but the immensity of it all started to sink in.

Robb did as he was told and hung his head. Jon continued with his explanations. "He styles himself as king of the Iron Islands. He appears to be the least of the crown's problems. Renly Baratheon proclaimed himself king of the Seven Kingdoms. Lord Baratheon prepares to meet with his brother in their ancestral home. Prince Gendry and my sisters are well protected inside Dragonstone.

Eddard closed his eyes and sighed in relief. The girls were fine. They were alive and safe.

"Send ravens to your mother first and then to all the great lords and houses. I am alive and not a traitor." Ned said and then looked at Jon with new eyes.

"What are your plans?" He asked his eldest.

"I planned to wait until we received news from Lord Baratheon. If Renly desisted from his claim then Robb and I would join their forces and put Gendry back on the throne. If however Renly continued with his claim Robb and Uncle Jaime would join Stannis Baratheon and bring Renly down."

His son spoke in the past tense. "What about the queen?"

"She has King's Landing, the fealty of Dorne and most of the Reach. The Tyrells have declared for Renly Baratheon.

Robb spoke then, "We were going to take King's Landing after sorting Renly Baratheon."

Eddard nodded and stepped out of the tub. He dressed with clothes Jon handed him. "Where is your grandfather?" Jon looked at him with hurt eyes. He remembered he knew the truth of his birth. That would have to be a conversation for later, much later.

"He remains in the Twins. He plans to storm the Eyrie or join me in taking King's Landing if necessary."

The lord of Winterfell frowned while dressing. "Lannister plans to sack the city."

"Grandfather helped us." Robb said.

Eddard replied bitterly. "The last time Tywin Lannister helped me or any Baratheon. He sacked a city, and killed innocent women and children, among those were Elia Martell and her children. Make no mistake, Dorne still mourns for Elia and blames the Lannisters."

"We will wait until Stannis convinces Renly to stand down. Lannister and his men will go and meet with Stannis and the prince." Ned continued.

"We'll advance to King's Landing and retake the Throne for Gendry." Eddard stepped out the tent and went into Tommen's tent.

The woman was still there. She undressed his son. He had a rag on his forehead and had his eyes closed. "How is he?"

"He'll live. He needs to rest for a few weeks and eat better. I cleaned his wound but it has to be cleaned again or he will surely have another infection. He's a strong one I give you that." She smiled and placed another rag on Tommen's feverish forehead.

"I'll stay with him for tonight." The woman said and gently and caressed his son's cheek. He felt Robb tense by his side. Jon came closer to Tommen. He smiled and then left, he assumed to gather the Northerners.

Robb left too. "I will look for uncle Jaime and tell him of the news." He nodded, trying to sit by his son without hissing.

"You're hurt too." The woman pointed out and went to her case. "Let me see." She made him stand up.

The woman poked around his side. He winced but did not cry out. "Your ribs are broken. Could you let me bandage them? Those cuts also need some cleaning." She motioned to his arms and legs.

Eddard let her. She wasn't westerosi. "You're from the East."

"My name is Talisa Maegyr." He watched as she placed the bandages around his middle.

"Volantis." He tried first.

Lady Talisa nodded and averted her eyes. She became shy, remembering they way she was supposed to act. She was highborn, a lady. Eddard could tell by her demeanor and way of speaking. "Maegyr. An old name in Volantis I assume."

"Sit down please." She avoided his gaze and proceeded to clean the shallow cuts.

He planned to remain quiet until she was finished and then send her away. "A very old name, one of the oldest." She said distractedly.

"You can go back to your tent Lady Talisa." He offered.

"Oh no. I'll take care of him. They will be looking for you shortly." Robb entered as soon as the words left her mouth.

"Uncle Jaime wishes to see you as do our men." He didn't take his eyes off of lady Talisa.

Eddard stepped outside the tent. Robb was by his side. "They're all through here."

He understood this was the strategy tent. A map of Westeros stretched out in two tables. Lannister, Karstark, Umber, Hornwood, and many others were there.

Greatjon embraced him, as did Karstark. He smiled. His brother in law looked at him with the same hateful eyes he reserved for him. Eddard had a similar look reserved for him.

"You managed to survive." The golden fool said without much emotion.

"The Starks endure." He said simply and took a seat in front of him. All these men had been to war. He had fought alongside these men and knew many of them.

Greatjon let out an uproar of laughter. Some of the men followed suit.

"What news do you have of Gendry and Stannis?" He asked Jaime.

"As Jon must have told you we're still waiting for the ravens." Lannister said in a bored tone.

"How many men does Catelyn have at her disposal?" He addressed Lannister again.

"Five thousand without Dornish men." The man replied.

"How many do we have?" He asked to no one in particular.

"Three thousand Northerners." Jon replied.

"A thousand Westerners under my command." Ser Jaime continued.

He pointed to the map. "Here." He pointed to the Stormlands. "This is where Renly and Stannis will meet. We will send your thousand men to help Stannis. We wouldn't have to wait for Stannis's ravens."

Jon stepped in. "Baratheon would be less likely to renounce his notions of kinghood if he feels threatened."

Lannister spoke then. "Your father isn't suggesting an ambush. We wouldn't attack. The boy does need to feel surrounded. He needs the additional shove to make the best decision. If we sail tomorrow we would be there two days after Baratheon and our prince arrive to their home."

"It is decided then. Take your thousand men and meet Stannis." He said icily.

"For once we agree." Ser Jaime said through his teeth.

They discussed war tactics for two hours until they had a plan. "Send ravens to my father. He needs to learn of these new developments." Ser Jaime said to the little shit who brought him to the camp.

Many of the men left until only his sons and Jaime Lannister remained inside the tent. "I have matters to attend to." His brother in law attempted to leave the tent.

"What you did was rash and endangered my family. You took my son and started a war."

"You started a war. If you had listened to Catelyn Baratheon you would be in the North by now." Lannister replied.

Eddard stood in front of his brother in law. "What do you know of honor Kingslayer?" He wanted to rile him up. What did the golden fool know about Catelyn and her misguided advances?

The man delivered. "Honorable Lord Stark. How does it feel to know you have started a war? You could have stayed quiet and let the world believe the princesses were Robert's." Lannister came close to him and looked at him with hatred.

"You chose to expose them. Catelyn was unstable to begin with and now she's over the edge and this madness became what it is now. Forgive me lord Stark but I am picking up after your mess."

He was enraged, few men managed to infuse him with such anger. "There haven't been rumors about the girls. No one knows."

The other man had the gall to laugh; "It was never about the girls. You and I know better. Girls don't matter, not in our world. You have given them free reign. They needed a provocation and you provided it. We have a war Lord Stark thanks to you."

Ned Stark watched him go and fumed. Jon and Robb stayed by his side. His second eldest looked as if he wanted to follow his uncle. For some reason it bothered him that Robb wanted to follow Lannister, he was jealous of the man, the feeling almost as corrosive as when he fell in love with his wife and she had nothing but tales of her golden twin.

"Your uncle will leave at dawn without you. Jon, you and I will march for King's Landing. We'll corner them until Gendry and Stannis meet us." He saw as his son shook his head.

"There's no place for me here. I'm going with uncle Jaime." The boy said defiantly.

"Robb don't." Jon pleaded.

"No, uncle Jaime is right. I'm not a boy anymore. I want to go with him. I can make a name for myself." Robb said and looked at him pleadingly.

Eddard shook his head. "You aren't his. You're mine son. You belong here with me, with your brother."

"You're going to send me back to Winterfell. I will have to take Tommen back. It won't be you who will have to see mother's saddened face." Robb said angrily.

Lord Stark shook his head. "Tommen is strong, stronger than I ever thought possible. He will not go back to Winterfell. We'll take King's Landing and return North together, all of us. We'll return to your mother."