Barristan I
The Great Hall looked entirely different to Barristan as he stood in it. It was hard to believe that the vast, echoing chamber had once been heaped in dragon bones. The new replacement of the Iron Throne was another startling change.
Viserys Targaryen obviously felt the same way. The boy was dressed in the same finery he'd worn as a prince and he'd the gossip Barristan had heard said he'd tried to wear his mother's crown on his head. Prince Stannis had forbidden that, of course. Now he seemed close to tears as he stood on the long carpet between the door and the throne, files of King's Men to either side of him.
"Where is it?" he cried out, his young voice shrill and cutting across the herald's announcement of him.
Ashara gripped Barristan's arm. "He's just a boy," she murmured.
"Aye. But he was a prince. This may go ill for him."
"Where is my throne!?"
Robert Baratheon had chosen a royal blue tunic, embroidered with golden stags, for this occasion. His warhammer was leant against the throne and Aegon's Crown was a glitter of gold against his black hair. "Your father's throne? Ser Jorah is wearing part of it."
All eyes went to the Royal Guardsman, stood to the King's left where Barristan had spent so many hours on duty. In addition to his mail he now wore a breastplate etched with a mighty stag, supported by a wolf and a bear, trampling upon a fallen dragon.
"You have no right!" the boy declared boldly. "I am the king!"
Robert favoured him with an amused look and then glanced at Stannis. "His sister?"
Looking grim and uncomfortable with the duty, Stannis walked up to the throne. Robert leant forwards and accepted the baby girl, holding her in front of him. "Well met, cousin," he greeted her as if she would understand.
"Take your hands off her, you usurper!" Viserys made to rush the throne but two of the King's Men stepped in and firmly caught hold of his shoulders.
Very deliberately, Robert placed Daenerys in his lap, head supported by his knees. Then he turned a grim stare upon Viserys. "Very well, cousin. My hands, as you can see, are not upon your sister. Do not imagine I will grant every demand you make, however."
"You say that I am an usurper. That is one point of view. In that view I would be wise to safeguard my throne by having you stabbed to death like your niece Rhaenys and dash your sister's skull against a wall, as Gregor Clegane did to your nephew."
"Another view would be that I am the nearest adult male in kinship to your father upon his death and that the Lords of the Seven Kingdoms have acknowledge me as their King. In that view your claim has no more substance than that of Vaella daughter of Daeron or Maegor son of Aerion after the death of King Maekar Targaryen, fifty two years ago."
"My mother crowned me as the King!"
"Your mother, the Seven bless her soul, gave you the crown she wore as consort. I doubt she desired you be consort to the new king..."
Barristan winced at the look on Viserys' face as a titter went up from the observing nobles.
"...so I must conclude that your mother, after years of abuse from your father, was not of sound mind. Had she been, she would have known that the rule of Westeros wasn't hers to bestow." Robert shook his head. "Now, I don't expect you to like me - I killed your brother after all - but in two days your mother will be laid to rest beneath the Great Sept. If you give me your word to behave as my guest until I'm done with that then you can attend those ceremonies."
Pale-faced, Viserys looked at the king and then the floor. The king. The floor. Then at Jorah Mormont. "I... I will attend my mother's funeral. Until then... I accept your hospitality."
Robert nodded and bread was brought out on a platter, along with a dish of salt. Viserys sprinkled salt on the bread and choked down a mouthful. While he did so, the king poked at Daenery's cheeks gently and made paternal noises. It was not a side of the Demon of the Trident that Barristan had expected to see. He wondered if he would feel the same way when he and Ashara had children.
Turning to his wife he saw her looking at the king. "Not quite what I expected to happen."
"Nor I," she admitted quietly. "This is not the court I remember."
"That's a good thing, surely?"
She didn't have an opportunity to reply for Viserys was firmly ushered off to the side and the herald announced: "Ser Barristan Selmy and Lady Ashara Selmy!"
Walking down the same carpet (with no escort of King's Men), they both knelt before the dais.
"It gives me great joy to learn that we live in a Westeros where the greatest of our knights may win the hand of the most beautiful of our ladies," Robert greeted them. "I understand that Prince Eddard has offered you lands in the North?"
"Aye, your grace. A goodly demesne between the Rills and the Wolfswood, if somewhat neglected in recent years."
The King nodded. "To establish yourselves in your new home, I pray you will not be offended if I bestow upon you a small token? Five hundred gold dragons, spent carefully, should allow you to furnish a keep and attract smallfolk to farm for your house."
"We are most grateful for your generosity, your grace," Ashara said quickly - perhaps fearing he would refuse the gift? He was not quite so selfless, for all that Robert owed him nothing at all.
Robert nodded approvingly. "Then please join my brothers and I at the high table for tonight's feast in honour of Stannis' victory at Dragonstone and his appointment as my Master of Ships." His smile grew a little sly. "Rest assured, Lady Ashara, you will have plenty of ladies to converse with, for Prince Jon's nieces Jeyne, Sharra and Aemma have joined us here at court..."
Ned V
The ride north from Riverrun had been chilly, although winter was well receding now. This was the North that Ned remembered, the North he would now rule.
He only hoped that the frost might pass from his household given time.
Catelyn rode further back in the column, next to the wet-nurse who carried their son Robb. Lyanna though, rode up beside Ned and exclaimed at every familiar landmark, pointing it out to the other two babes. I was right to agree she should come home. She's too much the direwolf ever to be at home in King's Landing.
"Prince Eddard!" Cheers went up from the men and women of Wintertown as they rode through it. "Lady Lyanna!" Only a few remembered to add: "Lady Catelyn!" or "Prince Robb!" to that but Ned was careful to nod to those who did. This must be a place for them too or it would be a cold hearth and a cold bed for him in the future. That... bothered him more than he had thought it would.
Rodrik Cassel had the remaining men and women of Winterfell in the yard by the time the horses walked through the gates. "My prince, Winterfell is yours."
"Aye." He dismounted and then walked back to Catelyn' horse and helped her dismount while Lyanna received her own welcome home. "My princess," he said quietly. "Welcome to your home."
Catelyn gave him a thoughtful look. "My prince," she said quietly.
They came out from amid the mounts together, with Robb carried in Ned's arms. "Rodrik, here are two Starks you have not met before. My wife Catelyn and our heir, Robb."
Rodrik, who had been embracing his brother, turned and then dropped to one knee on the cobbles. The others matched him until only the Starks stood. Even Lyanna tossed her hair and dropped to one knee, heedless of her skirts.
The moment held until another horse cantered into the yard, lathered with sweat. It's rider wore dark leathers. "Ned, Lyanna!"
"Benjen!" Lyanna shrieks and embraces their brother as soon as he has dismounted. When they last met, he was more boy than man but the war has aged him, even here and far from the fighting.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you arrived. The herds needed some attention and..."
Ned silences him with his own embrace. "You've done well here, Benjen. Meet my wife and -"
A wail went up from where Lyanna had left the other children to a wetnurse.
"- and the children."
"Children? I know you have a son now, but..."
"Aye. This is Robb. Your surety of not inheriting Winterfell yourself."
Benjen bowed over the infant, studying his face. "A handsome boy." When he looked up he turned automatically to the babes, one a small bundle in Lyanna's arms and the other of about Robb's size, arms free and waving about at any movement that the child spotted. He looked at his brother questioningly.
"Longstarks," Ned said quietly.
"Longstarks?"
"Aye. Lyanna has been granted that name and we will prepare a holdfast for her up by the lakes. Rickard and Brandon will be her heirs."
Catelyn and Benjen's heads both snapped up at that news, one because of the names and the other because he had not told her of that plan thus far - the opportunity had not arisen.
"It was my fault they went south," Lyanna said softly. "Ned was the one who reclaimed their bones but I thought I should -" Breath whooped out of her as Benjen hugged her again. After a moment she rested her head against his, their hair the exact same shade, blending into one.