Her quarters were everything anyone would want them to be. Far better accommodations than the Black Cells. It seems Robb Stark was a very different man than most the young ex-queen had met in her life. Most would have thrown her and the last of her advisors in dungeons like they were nothing better than thugs. The Young Wolf had the remainder of the Daenerys advisors put in solitary rooms, confined to different corners of the Red Keep.
The young queen should have been livid by Robb Stark's action, being so close to the signing of the treaty. But in all actuality, after the revelation revealed to her by Varys, all she felt was numb. One of her men went behind her back and tried to have Stark and her child killed. The similarities between the assassination plot and the the deaths of Elia Martell and her child made Daenery's stomach churn. Connington had become Tywin Lannister and never realized it.
Daenerys was still also stunned by her conversation with Robb. Not only was he naming her lady of Dragonstone, but he was also giving her back her dragons and her Unsullied. It was an act of mercy that was beyond anything Daenerys had ever witnessed. He had every right to throw her in a cell and let her rot, or even kill her, but he didn't. Robb was being merciful. And because of his mercy, Daenerys knew that anything she did to regain her crown would set her up as a villain. She knew that she could do nothing to retaliate against Robb because he had given Daenerys her life back.
It also didn't help that Daenerys would also risk the lives of her dragons and remaining Unsullied if she tried to fight a man with the might of Westeros at his back.
A knock on the door took her out of her thoughts. So far, the ex-queen had been left alone, except for a random rotation of servants bringing her meals. She had just finished her meager meal of ham, bread, and fruit, so there was no reason for anyone else to see her.
"Come," she called.
The door opened to reveal a tall, broad-shouldered man. He was dressed in the plaited leather that all Northmen seemed to wear. He had long, dark hair and deep grey eyes. He was an older man, probably in his forties, but he was obviously a warrior. In some sense, she reminded her of Robb Stark, with the same quiet authority and mysterious power.
The man nodded to her. "You must be Daenerys Targaryen," he said, closing the door behind him.
Daenerys nodded. "Who are you, ser?"
The man lowered himself into a nearby chair. "Me? I'm just a man," he answered quietly. "But some refer to me as Lord Stark."
Realization dawned on the young woman. Sitting in front of her was Eddard Stark, the last remaining figurehead of the rebellion that ended the Targaryen Dynasty. She sat up a little straighter.
"I must admit, Lord Stark, I did not expect you," she said, keeping her voice neutral.
The older man nodded, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "And I did not expect to seek you out," he admitted. "But I spoke to Ser Barristan this morning, and he mentioned how you had spoken to him and Mormont about the rebellion."
"Something you had a hand in." Daenerys snapped, unable to help herself.
Eddard gazed at her in annoyance. "Do not be so quick to place blame on me, girl. Your family is not free of guilt," he said firmly.
"I assume you came here for a reason, my lord, say it or be gone," Daenerys grumbled, glaring at the Lord of Winterfell.
"You want to know about the rebellion, about your brother, the Bard Prince." Lord Stark said. "I was there in my sister's final moments. I know the truth."
"If you know the truth, then why didn't you share it with your friend, the Usurper?" Daenerys challenged.
Eddard hesitated before explaining. "If I had, then it would have put the people I love at risk," he said vaguely. "But you want to know about Rhaegar and what happened with my sister."
"I do." Daenerys answered reluctantly.
"The two met at the Tournament of Harrenhal." Lord Stark started. "By this time, Lyanna was betrothed to Robert, and Rhaegar was married. I've spoken with my brother and others who were there who knew my sister, none of us were aware of the relationship or even how it started. But that was the only event that could have brought the two together." he sighed. "When Rhaegar presented her with that bloody crown, all the smiles died. I knew that there would be many rumors spreading across the North and Westeros about what happened, but none could have imagined the carnage that happened because of that very moment."
Daenerys nodded. "Ser Barristan said as much," she explained. "The question neither he nor Ser Jorah were able to answer was why? Why did a married man take a woman betrothed to another?"
"There was a rumor spreading from the capitol that the Bard Prince was obsessed with prophecy and someone called 'the prince that was promised'." he explained. "Speaking with one of my bannermen, he said that the prophecy spoke about a warrior that would rise up and save the world from a great evil."
Daenerys frowned. She remembered hearing that phrase during her time in the House of the Undying in Qarth. She had a vision of her brother Rhaegar talking about how his son Aegon was the prince that was promised.
"The Song of Ice and Fire," Daenerys muttered.
Lord Stark nodded. "Aye, that's the name of the prophecy. Rhaegar thought he had it figured out. The problem was that Elia Martell nearly died giving birth to the boy, Aegon. He needed a new woman, he thought my sister was the one he needed. Ice and Fire."
Daenerys' head was spinning as she tried to wrap her mind around the story. "So my brother took your sister to fulfill a prophecy?"
Eddard nodded slightly. "For her part, Lyanna probably saw it as a way to free herself from her marriage to Robert," he said quietly. "I knew my sister well enough, and she was always a free spirit. What was going through her mind when the Bard Prince came calling, no one knows. But she wasn't abducted, that much was certain."
"From there, they went to the Tower of Joy," Daenerys said, continuing the story. "How did you find her?"
Eddard smiled grimly. "Varys," he said. "The Spider told me where Rhaegar had kept her and who was with her. I took my northmen south to Storm's End to break the Tyrell siege before I journeyed to Dorne with six companions at my side. There, we found the three kingsguard: Ser Oswell Whent, Lord Commander Hightower, and Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning." for the first time during their entire conversation, Lord Stark looked far older than his years. His dark eyes had a far off look in them as he remembered that deadly battle in the shadow of the cursed tower. "Many of my friends died, and I would have as well if not for Howland. Arthur Dayne continues to be the most dangerous man I've ever fought."
"And your sister?"
Lord Stark's face hardened as the ex-queen brought up the girl. "I found my sister laying in a pool of blood," he said heavily. "She only had moments to live." he turned to look at Daenerys, his eyes gazing steadily into her indigo ones. For the first time since the man had entered did Daenerys feel real fear. Lord Connington and Aegon saw Eddard Stark like they saw Jon Arryn, Hoster Tully, and Robert Baratheon. Just another rebel. But this was the man who had fought one of the greatest swordsmen in the last half-century and lived. He was a very dangerous man.
"When Lyanna learned of our father and brother's murder at the hands of the Mad King, she wanted to leave and go home. Rhaegar was at the point of no return. He was so obsessed with making the prophecy come to life that he ordered his kingsguard to hold her down while he raped her. He got her with child and went north to fight Robert, where he was slaughtered on the Trident." he explained bitterly. "My sister told me that she fought back, but three men against one, she never had a chance. The only man who retained his honor was Authur Dayne, who wasn't present when it happened."
Daenerys looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Although she hadn't even been born when her family had committed the crimes, the weight of them still fell on her shoulders. She was still a Targaryen, and as such felt the full effects of the sins of her family. Her brother, the rapist, her father, the murderer. Her brother threatening to carve out her child seemed like the least of the crimes of her family.
It took a moment for the young queen to speak again, trying to hold back tears as her brother's actions were revealed to her.
"What happened to the child?" she asked finally.
"They are living a life far away from that blasted monstrosity of a chair," Eddard said, getting to his feet. "They were raised not knowing their actual parents for their own protection."
"You never raised the child?" Daenerys asked, shocked.
Eddard frowned. "I did more for that child than you could possibly comprehend." he growled. "I kept them a secret from my best friend, my king, because I worried that he would kill the child. I protected them and honored my sister's memory."
Daenerys recoiled at the anger in the man's voice. During the conversation, Lord Stark's tone had been conversational, although a little angry and mournful at times. But as the two spoke more and more about what happened to Lyanna Stark and the events in Dorne, his voice became harsh, full of sadness and bitterness. Here was a man who lost most of his family and was then forced to protect his sister's child from his best friend. That amount of stress and heartbreak would make weaker men broken shells of themselves.
"I am sorry for what my family has done to yours," Daenerys said quietly. "I know nothing I say or do can ever make that right."
The Lord of Winterfell regarded the girl before him before finally nodding accepting her apology.
"If what Robb tells me is true, then you are one of the better Targaryens," he said. "Hence why he's given you back your men, dragons, and home. He took a risk by doing so. You better prove him right."
"Thank you for speaking with me, my lord," Daenerys said gently, ready to be done with this conversation.
Eddard nodded. "You deserved to know the truth." he stood up and walked towards the door, stopping just before opening it. "My son is not someone to be messed with. I understand whatever you may feel, but I urge you to think of Westeros. I urge you to be better than your brothers and father."
And with that, the lord of Winterfell slipped out and left Daenerys alone.
Line Break
Bran
The castle was made entirely of ice, and even in the frozen wasteland of the Lands of Always Winter, he could feel cold and evil radiating from the place. The man next to the broken wolf shuffled.
"What is this place?" Bran asked.
"There is no name for it, at least not one suitable to describe it's darkness." The Three-Eyed Crow explained grimly. "But it is what created these lands. When the great darkness rose once more and created its creatures of ice and shadow, it raised this castle, and cast winter across half of Westeros."
"But it's summer in the south." Bran pointed out.
"The further you are from evil, the weaker its power becomes." the greenseer answered, looking around. "We can not stay long or they will sense our presence."
Bran opened his eyes and was back in the cave, sitting across from the man in the tree with his useless legs. Just as the crow had promised, he was learning how to fly, and while he was taking in all he could, there was still so much more he needed to learn.
"Why did you show me that?" Bran asked.
"Because you need to know where the enemy draws its power." the greenseer said. "However, that power can not be drawn if there is nothing to draw it."
Bran frowned. "What do you mean?"
"A sword cannot be drawn if there is no one to wield it." a light, musical voice explained from above Bran.
The second son of Eddard Stark finally realized what he was being told. "The powers of the Wh….of the enemy, they cannot be used if there is no longer any of the enemy left."
"That is correct." the seer said. "Your ancestor was not able to kill the last of the great enemy in the Battle for the Dawn. You must not make the same mistake."
Bran sat up a little straighter using his hands. "How can I make sure that they are all destroyed."
The seer shook his head. "There is still so much for you to learn." he glanced at the prone form of Bran's uncle Benjen. The First Ranger of the Night's Watch had been unconscious for almost weeks since Meera and their new allies had found him half dead with arrows buried in his back. The Last Greenseer looked back at Bran. "The Long Night comes upon us, and we must all play our part if the living want to win."
The End...for now