(Winterfell, The North, Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, Planetos)
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(Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon POV)
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Father was moody, yet with any luck that wouldn't prevent the reception of Winterfell from largely playing out as it did canonically. As they rode in to the majestic castle - after pausing for Joffery to mount his horse because of some bullshit Lyonel had no interest in - House Stark, following Eddard's lead and indeed so did every northerner present, knelt as his father dismounted. Lyonel, waited for his father to dismount before he did, going over to Joffery.
''I'm going to punch you in the face if you get off this horse and make a fool out of us all doing it.'' He warns quietly.
''I know how to get off a horse, I'm not Tommen.'' Joffrey spat angrily.
''Well, at least Tommen knows how to mind his own fucking manners. I'm serious Joff, if you do anything wrong from here back to the Red Keep, it's your ass. Don't forget, I'm the Crown Prince, not you, so if you even put so much as a toe wrong, then maybe, just maybe that nice light, lovely, red satin cloak of yours will be traded for a thick, black, heavy woolen one. I hear the wall is lovely year round.'' He says, threatening Joffrey to mind himself, before walking over to stand five feet from father.
''You've got fat.'' His father said, after bidding Ned Stark to rise.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lyonel spots a young Northern Lady who catches his eye. Such a pretty thing.
Something for later.
Ned Stark glances at his father's belly before looking up at him. It isn't long before the two old friends embrace.
''Cat.'' King Robert said, embracing Catelyn Stark.
''Your grace.'' She said deferentially.
''Nine years! Where were you? Where the hell have you been?'' His father asked.
''Guarding the North for you, your grace. Winterfell is yours.'' Eddard replied.
''Lyonel quit standing there and present yourself. Just cause you're a Knight doesn't mean you can be impolite.'' Barks his father.
''Yes, father.'' Lyonel said, rolling his eyes.
''You remember Lyonel Ned? He was with us at Pyke.'' Robert said, and Lyonel tried not to flinch at the reminder, despite the constant reminders at his hips.
''Aye, you've grown up Prince Lyonel. You were only six namedays last we met.'' Says Ned, bowing to him before shaking his hand.
''Yeah, well being fostered at Casterly Rock will do that to anybody. It's Ser Lyonel though, just because I'm crown Prince doesn't mean everyone has to be so sophisticated. Keep it simple.'' Says Lyonel.
''You're a Knight? At your age?'' Lord Eddard asked.
''Knighted about six months ago.'' Lyonel said with a shrug. ''Father, I'm going to get my men sorted if there's nothing else?'' He said.
''Go, see to your mother and Tommen and Myrcella too while your at it.'' Robert instructs.
''Aurane, Uncle Jaime, and Lyle with me.'' He ordered.
''He's still scarred from that day?'' he heard Lord Eddard ask, but he shut out whatever was going to be his father's response.
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(POV Shift: Ned Stark)
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He and Robert were in the crypts, walking towards Lyanna's tomb.
''Tell me about Jon Arryn?'' He asked.
''One minute he was fine, the next he was gone. Burned right through him, whatever it was Lyonel sent Ravens to Runestone asking Lord Royce to personally ensure the safety of Robin and Lysa.'' Says Robert, leading Ned to nod gratefully. ''I loved that man.'' Robert adds.
''We both did.'' Ned replied solemnly.
''He never had to teach you much, but me? Can you remember me at sixteen?'' Robert asked, leading him to chuckle at the memories. ''All I wanted to do wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls. He showed me what was what.'' Robert said.
''Aye.'' Eddard said somewhat smugly, them both knowing it wasn't entirely true.
''Don't look at me like that. It's not his fault I didn't listen.'' Robert responded, seeing his look, to which they both chuckled.
As Robert stopped laughing, they came to a stop.
''I need you Ned. Down at King's Landing, not up here where you're of no damn use to anyone but the Night's Watch.'' Robert said, and as Eddard went to respond, Robert beat him to it. ''Lord Eddard Stark… I would name you hand of the King.'' There it was.
Falling to one knee, Ned responds trying to live up to Catelyn's wishes.
''You do me great honor, your grace. But I am not worthy of it.'' Says Ned.
''I'm not trying to honor you, I'm trying to get you to help Lyonel run my Kingdom for me while I drink, hunt, and feast myself to an early grave.'' Robert said, and he hoped his oldest friend was joking. ''Damn it Ned, stand up.'' Robert said, bidding him to rise with a pat on the shoulder. ''You helped me to win the Iron Throne, now I ask you to help me, and Lyonel after me keep the damn thing in House Baratheon's grasp. We were meant to rule together, and if your sister had lived we'd have been bound by blood. Well it's not too late, and while Lyonel is promised to another, I still have a son, and you a daughter.We'll join our houses, like it should have been.'' Robert offered before going around him to Lyanna's statue.
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(POV Shift: Arya Stark)
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She'd heard so many stories about the Royal Family, many of which had found their way North, and were increasingly turning out to be about The Crown Prince. He was the only man in the Seven Kingdoms to carry not one, but TWO Valyrian Steel Swords. The stories told of him being a skilled swordsman, killing his first man at six name days old, and being a better archer. He cut a regal, yet rugged figure. Bearing a noticeable set of scars across his face.
If not for mother, she'd have already peppered him with countless questions. She'd also heard tales of the men he'd spoken briefly of. They were called the Antlers and Claws, and there were rumours of members who were women. An elite regiment of troops - whatever that meant - who answered directly to the Crown Prince and were drawn from the best and brightest that the Stormlands and Westerlands had to offer.
Now however, she had an opportunity to question him.
''Is that Red Rain and Nightfall?'' She asked the Crown Prince, looking and pointing at the swords he carried as he turned to face her.
''Aye, it's said Red Rain was once a sword of House Reyne, sadly no records exist to prove that following Grandfather's response to the insurrection. As for Nightfall? Countless men called me greedy for taking a second Valyrian Blade, but Houses Harlaw and Drumm led the ground forces into Lannisport, and while the heir to Harlaw escaped me that day, Dunstan Drumm did not. You're Arya Stark. I've heard about you. You just might be Lady Stark's only real Northern Daughter if half the tales Father told me of Lyanna Stark were true.'' She made a face, unsure if he was insulting her… or Sansa. ''It's not an insult, Father said your aunt was willful, and left your grandfather no choice but to have trained in swordsmanship and horsemanship. I doubt your mother lets you do that, but looking at you now? I see someone who wants to be a fighter. Not something I'm unfamiliar with, right Lieutenant?'' He says, turning to the tall Knight next to him.
The Knight bristles, turns to him as if in question.
''It's hardly a secret at court, and she's a lot like you if Varys is to be believed.'' The Knight reluctantly takes off the helmet, revealing a warrior who was clearly not a man.
''Arya Stark? Meet Brienne of Tarth, and yes she is a Lady, but the important part is that she is a warrior. I'll leave you two alone, Brienne, do not be so stiff for once, Greer is already warning off the Septa. I do tend to try and think ahead.'' Prince Lyonel says, but she's barely paying attention.
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(POV Shift: Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon)
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Lyonel felt a little guilty sicking Arya onto Brienne, but it gave him a chance to Corner Theon Greyjoy.
''This belongs to you.'' He says, presenting Nightfall to Greyjoy.
''Nightfall, the Blade of House Harlaw. My mother's house.'' Theon says taking the blade and holding it, taking a few swings briefly before handing it back to him.
''Any right I have to that blade by blood is thin at best, and besides it was taken as a prize of war. It belongs to you, regardless of what my kin say.'' Says Theon.
''You're sure?'' Asks Lyonel.
''Aye, Lord Stark has taught me much. I look forward to the day I can return to Pyke and make something more of my family.'' Says Theon.
''I'll see you at the feast, Lord Greyjoy.'' Lyonel says, putting emphasis on the Lord Greyjoy part and placing a hand on Theon's shoulder. He was willing to part with Nightfall, unlike Red Rain. But Theon has impressed him, even knowing what might happen to him in the future.
He watched as Lord Stark and his father left the Crypts, his mother embraced his father. The marriage wasn't a fairy tale one, but it was a warm one. Myrcella and Tommen clearly were the fruits of their marriage like him. Joffrey less so. He didn't know why Uncle Jaime and his mother hadn't been bedding each other after Joffrey, nor did it really matter. What did matter was the fact that the Feast would be soon.
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(Author's Note:)
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Hard to believe I wrote the first three chapters across a three hour period in one day. Something's working well there. I think it's because I wrote this in the garage where there's not as much distractions. My neighbors have child's quad bike they let their daughters ride, this not being the neighbors who partied to four fucking thirty am. Trouble is these particular neighbors have a habit of riding that damn bike for thirty minutes to an hour around their backyard. And since my room is situated directly adjacent to the backyard I have to hear the fucking thing non-stop. Which is somewhat Ironic because I love riding quad bikes and dirt bikes.
Anyway, complaining aside a few things to say regarding this chapter and future chapters. I enjoyed the scene with Theon, I wanted to write something there that showed some kind of growth of Theon from his time at Winterfell. I also wish to say that I can officially confirm that the first man that Lyonel slew was indeed Dunstan Drumm. Which again was down more to dumb luck than anything else. I'll get into the parts regarding Nightfall more down the line. Next chapter will be the final part for Winterfell, after that it's probably going to be a two maybe three or four chapter arc for the Hunt Robert goes on, before we transition to a two or three-part chapter series for the Kingsroad parts. Expect Lyonel to get some action in the next chapter as well. Anyway, I still have chapters to write and shit to do despite it almost being 7:30 PM here in NZ at this time of writing. See you guys at the next Chapter.
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