Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Ned Stark was angry.
So angry.
His father was dead.
His elder brother was dead.
His sister was dead.
His beloved Ashara was dead because he was forced to marry a cold Tully fish instead of her.
His younger brother has decided to leave for the Night Watch.
His best friend married the Lion bitch while spouting about his love for Lyanna for all those that would hear.
Did that love even exist? Or was it a rouse? A way to sit upon the Iron Throne? He knows not. But it is not like he is in a position to judge Robert. Because while he had never actually expected to become Lord Paramount of the North, he will not look a gifted horse in the mouth. And yes, while he had planned to marry his sunny Ashara and have children together in Dorne, they were the dreams of a naïve child. He can aim higher now.
And while they do say that wolves do not do well south of the Neck, that is just some common superstition. He was fostered in the Vale and he turned out perfectly fine!
Surely his Tully wife can pop out some girls? Especially if one of them gets the chance to first become a princess and then a queen? It is the only thing she is good for after all. After Ashara, he has no space in his heart left to love another woman.
Perhaps, just perhaps, if she does her wifely duties without complaint, he will even build her a Sept? Who knows?
But now he has harder things to decide on.
Specifically, what to do with his sister’s whelp.
If only he hadn’t been distraught enough to vow to her about the pup’s safety…
Its death would have been very unfortunate…
But he did give his word.
And now he has to stand by it.
Oh, as much as those southern septons confidently preach of the extinction of magic, the Starks know better than to believe in it. You can’t get Direwolves without it after all. And the occasional greenseer and warg in the family just supports their knowledge. But for all the benefits of magical blood that the Starks experience, there is one they could have done without. For a Stark’s word is binding. And he didn’t want to become the first example of what happens when a Stark goes back on a promise in generations. After all, his father hunting down Lyanna to hand her over to Robert was not just the action of a distraught father. Oh, they got her letter. About how she went willingly. But it mattered not. Rickard Stark gave his word that she was to marry Robert. So marry Robert she shall.
It was unfortunate that she refused to give hers. Even at the engagement. It would have made things so much easier…
But now he has a problem.
As a friend and a loyal supporter he should get rid of the whelp. Perhaps more discreetly that Tywin Lannister did of the young heirs, but now he is unable to do even that. Of course, he could make the child’s parentage known, but that would be a stain to his own reputation. So no.
Oh well, he may as well announce the child his own bastard. Such a position would not allow the child to aim high or reach anything significant in life. It would also serve to aggravate his new wife. And if Catelyn takes some liberties in the household’s treatment of the bastard? Well… he will pretend to be both blind and death.
And getting the whelp sent to the Wall once he reaches the minimal age would be a blessing in disguise. You can’t claim your birthright after swearing oaths to the Night Watch after all.