Book 2: Chapter 7
+++ Sansa- Meadow of Blades +++
"I-is that her?!"
Sansa eyes immediately flew open at the comment. The loud proclamation forced her out of slumber to locate the origin of the unknown voice. There were startled gasps when Sansa spotted the group.
The first person she recognized easily enough. Staring wide-eyed at her was none other than her male counterpart, the one yet to be embittered by the weight of his life, Shirou Emiya. It was then her eyes went from Shirou to the companion on his right. Sansa stared in shock at the black-haired girl with twin-tails who looked extremely familiar. She was dressed in a red shirt with a short, black skirt accentuated by black stockings. The girl was looking between Shirou and Sansa with a displeased look on her face.
"Close your eyes pervert!" the black hair girl growled at as she socked Shirou so hard he was lifted up a few feet into the air and fell into a crumbled heap.
"Uggghh~~" Shirou moaned in an undignified pose, his face planted in the ground with his butt pointed toward the sky.
Satisfied with her attack, the black hair girl turned back to Sansa and gave her a withering glare causing the redhead to take a step back.
"And you! Why are you naked?! Cover yourself up!"
Sansa slowly looked down at herself and nodded. Yep, she was naked. Odd. Usually she appeared in these Reality Marble dreams in whatever she went to sleep with, which mostly happened to be her night clothes. It took her approximately 2.03 seconds to realize exactly why she had been naked. Faster than lighting she had one arm up covering her developing breasts and her other arm stretched down to cup where her lower half was exposed.
"Rin, we're guests here. We shouldn't be so rude to female Senpai."
Sansa, still blushing hotly, turned her attention to the girl that had spoken up and was shocked by who she saw. After all, the purple-haired girl was her constant morning companion for a few years in her old life.
"S-Sakura?!" Sansa voice sounded far away to her own ears as she looked the purple-haired girl over.
"Senpai!" the purple-haired girl replied in a friendly tone as she gave a low bow with her two hands demurely cupped together.
"Pardon our intrusion!"
Unlike from when Sansa last saw the girl, which was in her school uniform, the purple-haired girl in question was wearing a white shirt with a yellow blouse over it. The look was finished with a plaid skirt of matching color.
"Impossible!" Sansa said in disbelief as her memories as Shirou rushed back to the forefront. She turned her eyes back to Rin.
"H-how are the both of you here?!"
"Forget about that, why are you even naked?!" the loud dark-haired girl accused as she shot the downed Shirou another withering look.
"More importantly are you always naked when you meet with those two idiots?!"
"W-what? No! I usually appear in whatever I go to sleep in…," Sansa answered distractedly as she took in the sight of a ghost from her past. Already her old friend had broken ranks with her twin-tailed companion and was walking toward her with a smile.
The girl, Rin, gave Sansa a half-lidded look in response to her answer.
Sansa grimaced as she was mentally recovered from what had transpired in the real world. Wait. If they were here then... her eyes searched for what should be the final member of their group and sure enough, she found her just arriving in her field of vision.
The first thought that came to Sansa's mind as she took in the beautiful blonde-haired, green-eyed figure, was that the girl was a Lannister. The girl in question was shorter than Mordred. The blonde face, however, differed from the Mordred quite a bit. No wonder Arthur was sure that their Mordred was not the traitor Mordred.
"Arturia…?" Sansa breathed out softly. The short blonde put up her guard after catching sight of Shirou's condition, but soon enough gave a soft nod.
"Lady Sansa," the King of Knights, clad in an elegant blue dress greeted her. There was no offer of a false smile, just a simple greeting. One that was exactly like her husband when he was being cordial.
"Here, Senpai." Sakura draped her yellow sweater over the naked redhead.
"Thank you." Sansa gratefully nodded as she felt the sweater was just enough to covered her modesty, but most of her front was still exposed. She also noted that Rin was glaring venomously at her chest area and that weird sense of pride threatened to bubble up again.
"So how is it possible that you are all here?"
Rin, her old classmate that she barely remembered, answered by pointing a thumb back toward the recovering Shirou (who was slowly getting back up).
"He brought us here to hide from the enemy assault. Imagine our surprise when we saw this nice field of flowers here."
"Enemy?" Sansa frowned before she remembered what Archer had warned her of- wait, didn't Archer say he was going to bail out his younger counterpart? Looking around, beside the three girls and Shirou, she did not see any signs of the sarcastic Counter Guardian anywhere.
"Archer.. is he..?"
The look in the three girls' eyes let Sansa know the fate of her other counterpart.
"It was his idea for us to hide here," Rin was the one who spoke up first, her arms folded across her chest as if hugging herself for comfort. Moments later her blonde companion gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.
"Stupid jerk, always dying on me..."
"So, Senpai, why are you naked?" Sakura asked in an effort to get everyone thoughts off of the noble, yet sarcastic man.
"Yeah, I didn't think we- er, I mean you really sleep with no clothes on," Shirou tossed in his two cents, but quailed under a glare from Rin.
Sansa suddenly blushed red as her hair as her thoughts were brought back to her most recent memories. Seeing the group's expectant looks she turned her head to the side a bit.
"I, ah, ahem, I was with my husband..."
There was a few moments of silence before Rin turned to a wide-eyed, green-looking Shirou and pointed at him.
"Leave. Privacy. Now."
"What, why?!" Shirou asked, confusion etched on his face.
"Girl talk, dummy!" Rin snapped and was pleased when Shirou eyes lit up in understanding.
"R-Right, I-I'll just be over that way," Shirou pointed in a random direction and began to walk away at a fast pace.
Sansa sighed, it appeared gossip was universal. Or rather, multi-versal. Sure enough after Rin was satisfied that Shirou was far enough away, she grabbed her blonde companion by the arm and headed toward where the rest of the group was.
"Oh, let's sit by the tre- Oh my! What is that?!" Sakura squeaked in fright as she saw the large sleeping form of Taiga curled up in one of the tree groves, hiding most of her form.
Rin, who could now see the large wolf, gulped nervously. "W- Is that the Direwolf?"
Sansa nodded as she approached the sleeping beast. Taiga only ever woke up when she was prodded by Sansa or food. Slowly she began to stroke the soft fur of her pet, showing off Taiga's beautiful glossy gray and white fur, as well as the fact that she was harmless. Judging by how they were inching closer, she had succeeded.
"C-Can I touch it, Senpai?" Sakura asked shyly as she stared at the slumbering beast. Despite its size, the girl couldn't help but find it cute.
Sansa smiled and reached out to take Sakura's wrist and place it on Taiga. She watched as her old friend slowly stroked the large beast's hide. True to form, Taiga did not object but instead lazily turned around to give Sakura's hand a gentle lick before laying back down to sleep. The lick caused her old friend to giggle softly as she became more confident in petting the large animal.
Sansa turned around and saw the longing gaze that Rin had on her face. Arturia was still giving Taiga a wary look.
"You know you are welcome to join, right Rin? Arturia?"
With permission given, Rin let out a soft squeal and began to stroke the fur of the great wolf beast. Arturia, on the other hand, abstained. Reminding Sansa of how Arthur could hold himself aloof. Even the presence they exuded was the same. Having literally basked in it on a daily basis she felt comfortable in the shorter blonde's company.
Easing herself next to the King of Knights, they shared a few minutes of silence as Taiga woke up and began to lick Rin and Sakura's faces, causing the two girls to squeal in greater delight.
"So what happened over there? Archer was quite vague that last time I saw him here," Sansa turned to look at the smaller blonde, who closed her eyes and exhaled softly.
"We are not too sure ourselves. A week ago there was some sort of undead outbreak, and not the kind usually affiliated with the undead apostles." Arturia began, her eyes softened at the sight of Rin being nudged around by Taiga and being very affectionate.
"It was like those zombie apocalypse movies. Have you ever seen one?"
Sansa blinked as she realized that it had been a long time since she thought about such mundane things about her old life. But yes, she had seen something similar.
"Surely with the Clock Tower and spirits like yourself, not to mention Alaya, the zombies don't stand a chance?"
"They didn't initially," Arturia explained, but there was a puzzled frown on her face. "But then, suddenly they were everywhere, blue-eyed wights lead by men made of the coldest ice. And they had Counter Guardians like Archer working for them also."
Sansa eyes widened at Arturia explanation. "H-How?"
Arturia eyes furrowed. "According to Archer, whatever those things are, it acts like a parasite. It incubate itself in humanity, and by extension the Will of Humanity itself."
"Winter is coming..." Sansa murmur softly to herself but saw that Arturia had heard her. "Sorry, not sure if Shirou told you about my family House Words."
Arturia merely studied her for a moment and nodded. "He told me. Sorry, I am still coming to terms that you are really a Shirou inside. Every now and then I can see a shadow of Shirou in the way you hold yourself or in the inflection of certain words. Yet you are different enough where I would miss it if I did not pay close attention."
Sansa blinked at the green-eyed blonde and let out a small grin. It wasn't as blatant as some of the ones she used to do. 'Like a boy,' her mother once said, 'a lady's grin is different.'
"To me the way Arthur holds himself is exactly how you are right now. Even down to the intimidating presence. Literally, the only thing that changed was your gender."
Arturia face showed that she was quite interested by Sansa's confession. "Truly?"
"Well, except for the height. He's really tall… and muscular." Sansa elaborated to her intrigued companion.
"I see..." Arturia looked down to her body before looking at Sansa, who towered over her by at least half a head.
"S-So, did Archer say anything else before he…," Sansa lowered her voice to look to see that the two girls were now chasing Taiga around the heart tree. "About the Long Night?"
Arturia shook her head slowly. "That was pretty much it, though he did tell us that the crucial battle will be taking place on your world. That Alaya brought in as much help as it was able to before it couldn't interfere anymore."
"You mean Arthur and the other reincarnated Knights of the Round Table?" Sansa asked as she realized perhaps the reason why there were so many reincarnated people was not so random after all. She would need to tell Arthur. He would know what to do.
"I'm sorry but did you say reincarnated knights?" Arturia whirled on Sansa, her eyes searching. There was a flicker of something Sansa could not make out.
"Shirou never mentioned anything about other knights."
"I- just found out recently myself so they wouldn't have known," Sansa answered while looking at Arturia in genuine concern. She couldn't explain it but she knew the knights being reincarnated was important to Arturia. So distracted by Arturia's intensity, she did not realize Sakura and Rin had stopped their little game with Taiga to evesdrop.
"W-which knights were reincarnated?" Arturia whispered softly, almost desperately.
"W-Well, keep in mind that not all of them are born knights, but from what Arthur told me," Sansa began slowly as she saw Arturia visibly steel herself. "Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad, and Guinevere."
"Wow," Rin breathed softly at the name of possible heroic spirits that resided on Sansa's world while Arturia closed her eyes when the names were listed.
"Even Guinevere?" Arturia muttered softly to herself.
"You should know that -like me- their genders have also become inverted," Sansa spoke up quickly and saw Arturia eyebrow rise so high that it was threatening to fly off her face.
"Gawain is a tall Essosian woman name Gywr. She is married and Galina, Galahad reborn, is her daughter. She is two years older than me."
Arturia, for the first time, lost her composure as her eyes widened comically. "Th-They're mother and daughter?!"
Sansa give a tight nod. "They're also leaders of an all female mercenary warband two thousand strong. They've swore fealty to Arthur again."
Arturia eyes once again took on a complicated expression, but her face still showed her disbelief. "A-And my wife and First Knight?"
"Guinevere has been reborn as a minor noble from the Vale. She is as big as Arthur, though a bit burlier. Her name is now Gwynn of House Lake."
"Gui- Guinevere?! Burly?!" Arturia head titled to the side as if trying to will herself to picture her former wife gender-bent. Suddenly she stood ramrod straight.
"Wait! House Lake? But if Lancelot is a woman then her – is Manievere- I mean Guinevere- and Lancelot..."
Sansa do not know why, but she was getting serious Mordred-vibes now. The adorable ones when her sister-wife was completely flustered and out of her depth. The reaction was eerily similar to how Arturia was acting. Feeling very mischievous for some reason, she decided to go for broke.
"Worry not," Sansa assured Arturia, knowing of the legendary scandal. "Lancelot was reborn as a woman of the Vale named Lorelei,"
Sansa wondered, if Arturia eyes opened any wider could they pop out?
Arturia blinked and she did some medieval mental map work. "Wait, then doesn't that make them-"
"It makes Lancelot, or rather, Lorelei the younger sister of Ser Gwynn of House Lake."
"S-S-s-s- SISTER?!" Arturia all but yelled, her decorum gone, her imperious presence nullified. She could only gape like a fish.
"They're brother and sister?!"
Arturia suddenly went quiet. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Rin look at her blonde companion, and she guessed fellow harem member, in concern. Truth be told, she was starting to become concerned herself at Arturia's sudden silence and shaking. There were some low inaudible mutters before the shaking intensified.
"Bu-urk~" Arturia clamp a hand over her mouth.
"Saber?" Rin approached her harem-mate when the blonde suddenly stood up and the expression on her face back to normal, whatever expression she had was gone.
"How... ironic," Arturia mused softly to herself. "Are they warriors like Gawain and Galahad?"
"Gwynn is, Lorelei has taken up womanly pursuits, feeling that this was her penance for her role in your downfall," Arturia's eyes widened once more in surprise and Sansa decided to give more information to the King of Knights.
"She is the best seamstress in Harrenhal, if not the land. Her needle-works are legendary."
"… !" the King of Knights once more hid her eyes behind her bangs, looking at the ground while her body shook violently for a few moments.
Sansa observed Arturia carefully and suddenly something suspicious came to her mind. Could it be that the King of Knights were amused by fate of her former knight and wife?
"A-and Lan- Lorelei?" Arturia voice sounded tight as she became a bit more somber. "Is she happy?"
Sansa nodded and looked over to where Taiga was demanding to be petted by her. She rolled her eyes as she indulged the needy beast.
"She has been extremely so since you made her your mistress."
"Ungah!"
The loud thud forced Sansa to look up where she saw the King of Knights flat on her back, frothing at the mouth.
"Saber!" Rin shouted, concern clearly in her voice as she knelt by her Servant's side.
"Arturia!" Sakura, always gentle, also ran to the King of Knight's other side, fanning the face of her harem-mate with her hands.
"Saaabaaah!" the loud male voice of Shirou could be heard across the field, and his figure could be seen running toward them.
Sansa looked at the King of Knights still on the ground, body convulsing, eyes wild, and let out a small secretive smile even as Shirou reached them.
"SABAAAAH!"
"Braaggghhh!"
+++ Mordred- Harrenhal+++
The Lord and Lady of Harrenhal were breaking fast in their large private dining room as was customary, though missing were the presence of Lady Sansa, Lady Lorelei, and perhaps their newest addition, Lady Daenerys. Arya had choose to break fast with Captain Gywr's daughter, Galina instead. The smaller girl felt that she could learn more from the fast and nimble the young mercenary.
So it was upon this scene that Mordred found herself. The long rectangular table, Arthur at one end, her sitting to his left on his side of the table. Sansa would usually be opposite her, Arya would take the spot directly across from Arthur. But now with Daenerys here, the sister of Arthur might be taking that spot instead. They had been eating for quite some time, the large spread before them already half consumed.
Mordred peeked at her husband from the corner of her eye before she looked down at her breakfast. It was a Sansa-inspired creation for certain. It included neat strips of cut pork, eggs, and well-baked biscuits on her plate arranged in an artistic manner. To her left was a large cup of oranges juice squeezed from Sansa's garden and fresh milk from the cows, possibly the same one given to her by her father.
'Now wouldn't that be ironic, those cows actually being worth something.'
It was amazing to Mordred how much Sansa's inventions improved Harrenhal. While Mordred herself kept busy with the day to day affairs, it would not be a stretch to say that Sansa's innovation did more to uplift the people of Pendragon's quality of life. The trickle down effect was starting to show.
Of course, none of that was possible without their husband's protection. Under Arthur's rule, like in ages past, those that resided on his land were protected, thus safeguarding Sansa's creativity as it spread. Mordred herself made sure to root out corruption at every level of government down to the smaller towns. It wasn't Camelot reborn, but it was beginning to shape up to something very close.
Arthur appeared to be done as he waved the serving girls away, who still blushed in his presence. Mordred could admit that he was very handsome to behold, but then again, Targaryen's were suppose to be naturally beautiful.
"Everyone, leave us," Arthur suddenly spoke up, startling Mordred out of her thoughts. She heard her husband order the commander of her guards. "Brienne, no one is to disturb us no matter what. Understood?"
"Yes, My Lord," Brienne of Tarth pounded a plated fist to her chest before she walked out.
Like most of their troops, Brienne now wore the personalized Pendragon armor, thanks once more to Sansa's smiths working laboriously day and night to make them. Unlike the regular troops, Mordred personalized her personal guards with a touch of red on the shoulders. Most believed it was to pay respect to House Lannister, but they didn't know that it was because of her coat of arms during her rebellion. Of course, she wasn't doing it to be disrespectful to Arthur. But while she wasn't proud of her rebellion, she was still proud of what she achieved with it.
Now with Brienne gone, it was just her and Arthur. Alone. Mordred gulped softly. Peering up shyly she saw her husband with a complicated look on his face. Apparently he was also at a loss for words. She couldn't blame him. Her other sister wives and one mistress was still sleeping after the previous night's... proclivities.
After another minute of silence between husband and wife, Mordred decided she couldn't stand it anymore.
"Husband/ Wife," the duo said at the same time.
Mordred immediately went quiet while Arthur did the same. Yet another moment of silence elapsed between the two, and like her, Arthur seem to be fidgeting in his seat before he nodded to himself.
"Wife… Mordred," Arthur began slowly, he was dressed in the stylized blue and white robe she had Lorelei made for him. Say what you will about Lancelot reborn, put something in his hand and he'd become an expert at it, or rather her hands.
"Regarding yesterday..."
"Ah..." Mordred's faced flushed completely red, recalling the scene she had walked into yesterday and what, and who, Arthur was doing. Her reaction made Arthur's face take on a complicated expression and after taking a deep breath he exhaled heavily. Then without warning he slammed his face onto the table causing her to jump out of her seat both in surprise and concern.
"Arthur?!"
Arthur merely held out his hand and slowly lift his head up, besides a small red welt on his forehead that was beginning to fade Mordred saw no other damage.
"I'm acting too much like a coward, that was not my intention," Arthur exhaled deeply before his face took on a more determine look.
"I want to apologize for what you witnessed yesterday. I normally would never even consider such an… orgy as if I was in a- a brothel. I do not know what came over me, but I can only offer you my more sincere apology and that it will never happen again."
Mordred blinked and saw that Arthur truly did look sorry. Her face slowly morphed into one of gentle exasperation even as her respect for him rose higher. She naturally did not care if he bedded his wives in such a manner, but he apparently thought it was something she disapproved of as a princess of the realm. She held up a hand to stop him from continuing his apology.
"Husband… Arthur, you were not to blame for yesterday." Mordred sighed and began to settle down into her seat.
"Firstly, I don't care if you do bed us- I mean them in such a manner. It is your husbandly as well as lordly right."
Mordred saw Arthur eyes widen as he took his seat again in a heavy manner. She had to smile at that, always too noble sometimes and far too concerned about propriety.
"Secondly, I found out that what happened yesterday was a result of Lady Daenerys' machination," Mordred explained to the confusion of her husband.
"Dany? How?" Arthur's confusion was understandable though.
Mordred looked at her husband and explained exactly why it was his sister's fault.
It had started with Mordred being called away by her uncle before she could partake of the dinner. The reason why was because apparently the three food tasters that she had personally employed were fornicating like rabbits in the kitchen area. She had been completely shocked at what happened until one of the Warrior's Maiden guards recognized a familiar bottle that was by the kitchen stove, one that Sansa had cooked at. Further inquiry to the rest of the kitchen staff revealed that it was given to them by Daenerys to cook with under the excuse that it was Arthur's favorite spice. The head of the kitchen staff, Lilian Strass, had been dubious about the whole thing until Sansa showed up and approved of the ingredient.
The (now separated) fornicating food tasters had done their job, thus ensuring nothing happened before it was served to the rest of the house. That was when Mordred had rushed back to the Dining Hall and happened upon the scene of Arthur and his maidens. Seeing as no one else but his wives were caught up in his lust induced state, Mordred ordered the area cleared and the rest was history.
Mordred face became hot as she recalled in great detail the scene she had stumbled on upon her return. By all appearances Sansa became Arthur's main course while the other two women were draped over his shoulders, watched in fascination. Devouring dragon indeed, she looked back to Arthur only to see his face had taken on a pained expression before he took several more deep breaths.
"Dany..." Arthur muttered in a pained tone as he began to rub his temples. "So that's why… I should apologize to Sansa and Lorelei on her behalf."
"You shouldn't," Mordred interjected with a raised eyebrow and knowing look.
"The concoction was supposed to wear off in an hour from what I was told, two at the most being spread out over as many dishes as it was. But I recall the three of you continuing well into the night."
Arthur face flushed red while Mordred grinned. "So you see, the three of you did nothing wrong. Strange that you apologized to me though. I thought you were just embarrassed by what happened."
Once more her husband's face took on that complicated expression as he eyed his cup in silent contemplation before letting out a sigh.
"Why the long sigh, My Lord?" Mordred asked with real concern as she moved beside him to give him a comforting pat on his hand. "You have been absolved."
Arthur exhaled once more before turning to face her, his eyes contemplative.
"Husband?" Mordred tilted her head questioningly to the side to prompt him to move on. Apparently that did the trick as she could see the resolved firming up in his eyes.
"I – I just hope that I have not gotten any of them with child," Arthur locked his eyes with hers.
Mordred for her part was confused and her face probably showed it. "Why not? It's a good thing to have heirs."
"Yes, it is." Arthur nodded in agreement before his eyes became sharp and held her gazed with determination. "But I had wanted you to give me my first heir. A selfish desire I know."
Mordred took a few moments to really process what her husband had just said before the implication struck her like a cavalry charge and her face turned redder than the tomatoes growing in Sansa's garden.
"A-Arthur…," Mordred could not believe how her voice came out like a squeak. She wanted to turn away but Arthur held her gaze with his sheer presence and, as more often than not, when he showed her any affection it usually left her vulnerable.
"Bu-but w-hy me? First? Why?"
Arthur reply was to cup Mordred cheek and give it a soft gentle caress. Mordred got mad then. Arthur was clearly enjoying her being flustered like this, the joy in his eyes was clearly visible.
"Why? You asked?" Arthur slowly drew her in for a soft gentle kiss before looking at her again.
"Despite the fact that I married my sister first, I do not consider her my first wife. You are."
"B-But why me?!" Mordred could not help her stammering at the thought of Arthur's intent for her!
Mordred knew in some detached way that she would have to have children one of these days, but her fear of Arthur and her effort to be on his good side had taken up most of her thoughts in regards to particular aspect of their marriage. Though Robert and mother often teased her about it, she had always thought that she would be very last on his list. Not the bloody first!
Suddenly Arthur face looked uncertain and much less confident. "U-Unless of course that you are repulsed by me?"
"No, of course not!" Mordred automatically responded as her eyes widened and her face blushed red once more. They would have to find a new fruit for her to be compared to after today.
"So… you are not adverse to it?" Arthur asked with a hopeful smile. He looked so happy that Mordred really did not know what to say, only nodded her head.
"Go- Good, that is good," Arthur sighed in visible relief and his shoulders shifted as if a burden was lifted off of him.
"Your father, mother and grandfather have been constantly sending ravens asking when I was going to give them grandchildren. Not to say Sansa's mother did not do the same, despite her dislike of me."
"Y-You only desire this because they've been badgering you?" Mordred blush suddenly faded away and she felt a little saddened. So it was obligation and duty with Arthur than… well, she'd do her part.
"No!" Arthur said firmly as he put one hand on her shoulders and the other cupping her chin to make her face him.
"This was a decision I have made on our way to Harrenhal."
Mordred blinked in confusion before her heart began to warm once more. Only Arthur could ever take her emotions on such a ride.
"Truly?"
Arthur nodded firmly.
"Here you go again, looking so puzzled, you have no idea how selfless you truly are do you?" And to Mordred's great surprise, Arthur enveloped her into a gentle hug.
'If you only knew how selfish I really am,' Mordred thought, squirming a bit in Arthur's embrace.
'Really selfish.'
"It still amazes me how you were willing to wed me despite not knowing my marriage to my sister was fake."
'I sort of had to honor my bet with Robert...' Mordred mentally countered Arthur's point and fidgeted with the hem of her dress.
"You also kept the peace with Sansa. Most highborn ladies would not even tolerate a mistress, but here you are welcoming to both Sansa and… helping Lorelei out of her situation," Arthur continued as he began to play with the little tuft of her hair.
'Extenuating circumstance I assure you,' Mordred wanted to clarify but the feeling of his fingers on her scalp was doing things to her mindset.
"And I will admit that I've grown to enjoy your flustered look. You are so skittish, like a doe." Arthur's mirth was clear in his voice.
'Have you not paid any attention to what you do to the women around this castle?!' Mordred wanted to protest but could not find her voice any longer.
"The more I get to know you, the more I want our child, my heir, to have Harrenhal, the place you were instrumental in building."
Mordred could not describe the feeling that was swelling inside her chest but it made her feel so warm. There was a little niggling in her head that said she should perhaps tell him the truth, but it was squashed when she saw something in his eyes that went beyond simple affection, familiar fondness or cordial respect.
Dare she hope it was love?
"Our child..." Mordred repeated the words only to see Arthur smile brightly and happily while giving a nod. Despite how she felt, as far as Arthur was concerned, they had no blood relation. And even if they did, what he did with Daenerys yesterday proved that it was no hindrance. Did she dare to grasp this little bit of happiness for herself?
Knight of Treachery, they called her. Usurper, rebel, perhaps… this would be okay.
"Mordred?" Arthur prompted her after she had fallen completely silent in contemplation.
"And in the mean time you wouldn't touch your other wives would you," Mordred came back to herself and looked at Arthur face and saw him give a nod.
"Barring what happened yesterday, I'll wait until you're ready. I promise," Arthur swore even as Mordred eye widened.
Arthur's promise was ironclad, like how he had promised to kill her in her previous life and end the rebellion. Outnumbered as his forces were, Arthur kept his promise and slew her on top of a mountain made from the corpses of her men.
Watching Arthur's face again, Mordred decided that she would worry about tomorrow's problems tomorrow. She had too many already. Perhaps she should live in the moment as she had before Arthur came back into her life. Looking shyly back at Arthur, her face tinged pink.
"If, if that's the case then perhaps…," Mordred breathed in deeply before making eye contact with Arthur.
"Then perhaps my Lord would care to visit his wife tonight?"
Arthur pulling her toward him to kiss her was all the answer she needed.
+++ Eddard – King's Landing- Baelor Sept +++
Eddard had many titles in his life, Lord, Warden of the North, Father, Husband, but he had never expected that traitor would be one of them. Yet here, on the Sept, he waited for the nobles of the Crownlands and the newly crowned Joffrey Baratheon arrival so he can be judged. He wonder if he should take the red streak in the sky was an ill open for him.
"Booo!"
"Traitor!"
"Murderer!"
Some even flung cabbages and other rotten fruits at him, but Eddard gritted his teeth and took the abuse. They did not realize the monsters they had on the throne. It had been a busy week, Joffrey's coronation was carried out almost as fast as Robert's funeral, done in haste and now lain to rest in the King's Tomb.
By the Old Gods, where did it all go so wrong? His best friend, dead. There was a hollow hole in his heart now, despite the problems they had with one another or the falling out over Elia and her children, he loved Robert.
The crowd fell silent as the royal trumpet blared out to signal the arrival of their newly-crowned king, the incestuous bastard of Cersei and Jaime Lannister. Cersei had counseled for him during his foray in the dungeons to admit to treason but plead for mercy to join the Black, or else they would have to execute him.
So be it, they had no leverage on him now. His children were with Pendragon and he knew that the Targaryen Prince was honorable. No harm would come to Sansa, Arya, and Bran. His thoughts went to Robb, who will now feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders when war eventually breaks out. Robb would not stand for his death and he would never bend the knee to Joffrey. Eddard just hoped his son would be smart enough not go past the Neck. After all, before the Targaryen came, no Southern forces ever made it passed that point. Thankfully were no dragons for the North to worry about anymore.
There was the usual pompous ceremony before the royal family was escorted out, Joffrey along with his bride to be Margery Tyrell, the current Queen Cersei Lannister and finally the Dwarf, Tyrion Lannister. Other nobles filled out to the dais that was propped up a good twenty feet, so the crowd could have a better view of his execution.
Eddard found himself staring at the hard black stone on the ground as everyone was introduced. Even as the hot sun was beating down on him, at least it was better than the dark, dank cell he had been kept in. One could even say it was an improvement. He did spare a few glances to look for Renly, Stannis or even Brynden the Blackfish, but they had abandoned him.
Pretty soon the litany of titles was over and another was read, introducing the nobles. So once more Eddard weighed his options. Should he try a desperate gamble and make a bid for freedom? He could, but he was currently chained down so that option was out. He would have spit in the Queen direction if his mouth wasn't so dry.
"How do you plead Eddard Stark, Traitor to the Crown?"
Eddard snapped back and realized they were finally addressing him. The speaker was Grand Maester Pycelle, next to him was one of the King's Guard, Ser Payne, who had Ice strapped to his back. Seeing his family blade in the hands of another made his blood boil but still he remained defiant, his face reflected his stance.
"I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention to this farce of a trial. Care to repeat the question?"
With a nod from Cersei, Ser Payne struck Ned across the face with the back of his plate gauntlet. The blow was heavy but it did not break any teeth, something he was thankful for, small as it was.
"Eddard Stark, Traitor to the Crown, you stand accused of poisoning the late King Robert Baratheon. Unfortunately your own co-conspirators fled in the night like jackals before the King's Justice could be mete. You also stand accused of high treason for spreading false malicious rumors about the royal family, in particular your slanderous lies about her Grace, Queen Cersei Baratheon. How do you plead to these charges?"
Ned took in the "royal" family for the first time. Joffrey was staring at him, rage visible in his eyes. Margery, who was a friend of Sansa, looked uncomfortable and could not meet his eyes. Tyrion the dwarf showed no emotion, the Queen, however, was openly smirking and mockingly toasted him with her wine goblet.
"I'm no traitor, if anything that title belongs to the Queen for what she did with her broth-!" Ned began to retort but was interrupted by Payne's fist. Now that one loosen a few teeth and made him spit out blood.
"You will not slander the Royal family any further!" the Maester proclaimed as he nodded for Ser Payne to ease off on the attack.
"Kill the traitor!"
"Hang him!"
"Death! Death! Death!"
The crowd's chant gave Ned some time to recover as the Maester Pycelle looked at Ned and sighed.
"It appears that the traitor is unrepentant!" the Grand Maester declared in a loud voice for the crowd, but motion them to quiet down. He turn theatrically to the Queen.
"His fate is in your hands now, Your Grace. What would you have us do with him?"
Cersei made a great showing of being deep in thought before she looked between Eddard and Pycelle.
"Tell me, Grand Maester, do you think the traitor lord is salvageable? Though he does not deserve it, he was my King and Husband's best friend. I am inclined to show leniency."
The crowd suddenly stopped demanding his head as they too considered Ned's role in relation to Robert.
"The Black! Let him take the Black!"
Ned could only scoff at the obvious plant in the crowd. He knew that they wanted to avoid war with the North as they had to prepare for Stannis and Renly, perhaps even Dorne. Naturally, the only way they could get him to the North and take the black was via armed guard and sailing from the Westerland. Cersei had layed it out that much.
"Perhaps the Black would be best." Cersei made a great showing of her mercy, much to the adoration of the mob. She then turned to her bastard son.
"But I do not rule here, what will be your verdict, my son?"
Joffrey was still looking at Ned with barely concealed rage before his mouth opened up in a snarl.
"No."
Cersei, who had obviously planned Ned's sentence in advance, found herself at a loss for words when Joffrey disagreed with her. He could also make out the tighter grip on Margery's chair and the alarmed look on Pycelle and the dwarf's faces.
"Nephew, I really think-"
"Silence Dwarf!" Joffrey glared at his uncle who was visible angry at the public insult. As if it physically hurt him, Tyrion sat back down.
"Son, think abo-"
"You too, mother!" Joffrey ordered, his tone daring his mother to speak another word.
"I have heard your counsel, and letting him take the Black is too honorable an end for this traitor!"
Ned closed his eyes and knew his fate then.
The crowd grew silent as their king rose from his dais and drew the blade his sister had gifted him. He stalked toward Ned, raised it high in the air and brought it down with all of his strength. Ned glared defiantly at his would-be executioner, he would have to give the boy credit for at least doing the deed himself. However, he knew something was wrong when the angle of the blade aimed not for his head, but instead the chains that were holding him down.
"Wha?" Ned gasped out even as the Kingsguard drew their swords.
"Hold!" Joffrey held up a hand and continued to glare at Ned. The Kingsguard never dropped their guard but they did stay their hand.
"What is this, boy?" Ned asked, his curiosity getting the best of him. He could see the same confusion on Cersei face.
"I stand by what I say, taking the Black is too good for you, you can regain honor that way," Joffrey began as he glared at Ned venomously. "Death is also too easy of a way out for you."
"Torture is it, boy?" Ned sneered and looked down at the smaller of the two.
"Torture? No, torture is also too lenient," Joffrey to the muttering gasp of the crowd stepped in close to Ned, making his Kingsguard move in closer as well.
"I want you to forever live with the shame at your failure to protect my father and the humiliation for gullibly believing treasonous words."
Ned frowned then and glared at Joffrey. "My shame, boy? You speak to me of shame when you sit on that throne?"
"Yes, shame," Joffrey leveled his longsword at Ned throat. "I, for one, do not believe you killed my father, so you are innocent of that."
Ned was not the only one surprised by Joffrey's declaration as he took a look at Cersei and the other nobles who seemed as stunned as he was, even as Joffrey pressed on.
"My father has often spoken of you fondly, told me how honor was your very life's blood. But most importantly, my sister believes you to be completely loyal to my deceased lord father. Poisoning him would be out of character for you, not while I had better suspects. Others who might profit from my father's death."
Once more Ned was surprised, and he began to look at Joffrey in a new light.
"More importantly, you are not a stupid man," Joffrey continued as he maintained his glare. "If you had murdered my father I highly doubt you would have stayed behind to be captured. Coincidentally, my uncles and the Master of Whispers are nowhere to be found. Any ideas where they might have gone?"
Ned could not believe his ears, hearing Joffrey mocking words. It was true that the three who had visited Robert with him that night had fled. During his time in the dungeons he had suspected in his darker moments that had they known about the assassination, perhaps even framed him for it. But he brushed those thoughts aside. They were all honorable men, and Brynden was kin to him, not by blood, but kin all the same.
"Which brings me to my next point," Joffrey glare turned murderous almost instantly "You believed their LIES and slander about my mother and, most importantly, MY lineage."
"The proof is irrefutable boy!" Ned argued as he looked at Joffrey and, try as he might, he did not see any Baratheon features in him. "You are not of Robert!"
"Horseshit!" Joffrey spat as the tip of his blade bit lightly into Ned skin. "You have been played for a fool and do not even realize it! They got you to turn against the crown with their fake evidence and a well crafted mummer's tale. My father had claimed you were a smart man, I am beginning to doubt that."
Joffrey words, as much as he hate to admit it, made a certain amount of sense if he thought of Stannis and Renly in a treacherous light. Ned for once found himself beginning to doubt. Once more he searched the evidence and his mind turned to Robert's supposed first daughter. Mordred was almost a mirror image of Robert, NOT the drunken stupor or whoring, but the young Robert he had fostered with in the Vale. Even Jon had written glowingly in his journals of Mordred and how often she made him think of a smarter Robert. Then there was the girl's great strength and viciousness in combat. The sheer fury he had seen her display during the melee and her absolute joy reveling in it.
Could Joffrey be right? Had he been played for a fool? Was he complicit in the murder of his friend?
The other three children were different enough from Robert in temperament to be doubtful, but for those that knew Mordred it was almost certain they were father and daughter, that very same daughter who shared similar features with her younger siblings.
Slowly, Ned began to review the information he had been given by Robert brothers. While he had evidence of Mordred's plot against Robert's bastards, could there be other reasons she got rid of them? Perhaps she did not want Robert's bastards to hang around her family? The gods know how often his own wife wanted to get rid of Jon, and that was only one bastard in Winterfell. Robert had more, much more than was socially acceptable.
"I see you are finally thinking," Joffrey spat at Ned feet but he did not move his sword.
"Your vile accusation, that you and my uncles threw at my family feet could also apply to your own daughters and sons. I have seen your children. Ironically enough it is the bastard that you sired that has the most in common with you. Do you now suspect your wife of infidelity?"
Ned began his counter argument that Joffrey had left an opening in. "According to the lineage books, whenever a Lannister and Baratheon met, their hair turns out Raven color, not gold."
To Ned's confusion Joffrey simply threw his head back and laughed mockingly. "You hear that people? HAIR COLOR is the reason why he thinks I am not of my father!"
The crowd also began to mock and jeer at Ned.
"I suppose the ancient Starks of old used to think the same as well until the first one with a different hair color entered into your line," Joffrey sneered. "You realize there is a first time for everything."
Ned blinked then. Could he had been wrong? No, the proof was irrefutable… right?
"I will now give my judgment," Joffrey raised his voice as he lowered the sword in front of the mob.
"Eddard Stark, for failure in protecting my father, I now strip you of your post as the Hand and the title Warden of the North. Your son Robb is now the new Warden of the North and will take over your position. Ice will be returned and handed over to your son by one of my trusted men. You will leave here in disgrace for believing slanderous lies and word will be sent to all four corners of the kingdom of your folly and gullibility."
The crowd was stunned at their king's proclamation. Cersei looked ashen.
"Joffrey you cannot let him g-"
"It is DONE, mother!" Joffrey turned and glared at Cersei, quieting her.
"What is to stop me from joining Stannis?" Ned did not know why he said what he said. He could see Cersei and the Kingsguard tensing.
"I have made my declaration, if you join Stannis then it would be Robb's duty to to bring you to justice," Joffrey sneered once more at Ned.
"If Robb joins you then that would mean the North are traitors as well, and we will deal with you accordingly."
Ned could only blink, he could not believe he was thinking it but perhaps there was some of Robert in his boy after all. Could he have been wrong? Was this a plot by Stannis and Renly? They did leave without warning him...
"And my men?"
"My sister taught me to never be needlessly cruel so they will be released with you," Joffrey nodded to a guard who walk in the direction of the dungeons.
"Live out the rest of your life knowing you failed my father. His blood is on your hands."
The words cut into Ned heart deeply.
Then Joffrey turned his back on the Ned and walked away, the guards also leaving with Joffrey. Cersei couldn't seem to turn her glare away from him, but did not say anything.
"Your men will meet you by the North gate, traitor. Ser Payne will accompany you to give back your family's blade to your son Robb," a Gold cloak whom Ned was unfamiliar with spoke harshly.
Suddenly a very dark part of Ned wondered if Stannis and Renly wanted him dead so the North would march with them to take the throne. Yet he knew Stannis was an honorable man, but… as loath as he was to admit it, Joffrey also showed honor and perhaps wisdom.
What should he do? That thought would plague him throughout his entire journey home.
TBC...
AN: Do I need to explain the twisted irony in this chapter? I mean we been together this long right? At this point you guys either quit this story in disgust or have jumped through enough hoops to justified it. Either that or just say fuck it cause you enjoy it! I hope it's the last one! This story is lols with plot, so it will be moving in that direction if you seen it
As for my hiatus, I was pretty much broken about the death, unlike some stronger people, my recovery took longer. But I am back now, and this is the first thread I am going to work with until I feel like moving on, so please don't leave reviews asking for an update to another story.
However, if you do have a review to give pertaining to this story please do so! As always C+C welcomed Reviews appreciated!
Up Next: Jaime- Jon (No stop the fan girl screams!) and Arthur pov.