Chapter 4: Storm's A Coming

King's Landing had become like a cage for Sansa since her father's arrest. She was not allowed to walk anywhere without an escort or as she preferred to see it a guard, it was as if Joffrey and Cersei were afraid that she would try and escape if there was no one there to watch her constantly. She wondered where they thought she would try and escape to, she knew Arya was missing and had been missing since their father's arrest but Sansa was not Arya, she did not know how to fight to survive, she knew how to be a lady and say all the courtesies she had been taught like the little bird the Hound said she was.

When she had first come to King's Landing, she had been enthralled by the city it was so big and so colourful it was a far cry from Winterfell, and she had been so excited, if not for her marriage to Joffrey then because she knew that she would still be queen. However, her love for the city had quickly disappeared when the Kingslayer had attacked her father and injured him some weeks back, that attack had led to the death of several men from Winterfell whom Sansa had known her whole life and that was something she still did not understand why had the Lannisters suddenly turned on her father, when mother had taken Lord Tyrion prisoner for a crime that Lord Baelish had assured father he had committed? King's Landing had only been made worse by her still present betrothal to Joffrey, when father had said that they were to be leaving King's Landing the day before his arrest, Sansa had been deeply relieved her golden prince had turned out to be not so golden after all. He still tried to pretend to be sweet and charming towards her but Sansa knew that it was all an act and she hated him for it. She knew that it was because of him that father had had to execute Lady, and could not even understand why he and the Queen had insisted on it, when Lady had not done anything to him.

She knew that perhaps she was being unfair to the prince but she could not but help compare him to the only other boy who had ever held her heart, Jon. Whenever she made these comparisons she found that the prince came up sorely lacking. She knew Jon would never have made her do anything that made her feel uncomfortable or sad, she knew Jon would never have demanded Lady's death, she knew Jon would actually try and comfort her rather than leer at her and call her stupid. It was only truly after the incident on the Kingsroad that Sansa had truly begun to appreciate what she shared with Jon. True he may have be a bastard and her half brother besides, but he was her bastard and he was good and kind and handsome, everything the songs said knights were supposed to be. Sansa also felt that the fluttering she felt in her chest every time she thought of him was not just sisterly affection it was something more, it had to be something more.

Of course the question of whether or not she would ever get to see Jon or Robb or her mother or Bran and Rickon or Arya ever again loomed large in her mind, because with father's arrest and the news that Robb was marching south Sansa knew that she was effectively a prisoner in the Red Keep. Every time an announcement was made during the King's audience in the throne room she prayed fervently that none of her family were mentioned in it for the announcements largely stated the defeats that were befalling her mother's family in the Riverlands as well as the mounting death toll. She deeply hoped that if it did come to war that Robb was successful, because she did not know how long she could survive in the capital.

Sansa had not even been allowed to see her father, since the day of his arrest for a crime that Sansa knew deep down in her heart he had not committed. Every request she made before the Queen or Joffrey was shot down and so four weeks had passed since her father's arrest and she had not seen him once. She had not even been allowed to see Jeyne Poole, who it seemed had simply disappeared from the face of the earth, the last Sansa had heard she had been taken in by Lord Baelish, but to where Sansa knew not wherever she was Sansa hoped that Jeyne was well and not being hurt too badly.

It still grated Sansa that the Queen had all but forced her to write that letter to Robb and to her mother, denouncing father as a traitor to the crown and asking Robb to come to King's Landing to swear fealty to Joffrey. As she had been writing the letter, Sansa had been screaming bloody murder inside herself willing her hands to write the truth that her mind was thinking, but her hands betrayed her and neatly wrote the words that the Queen told her to put to parchment. She knew that reading the letter would deeply anger Robb and Jon and she could only hope that they knew she meant not a word of what she had written that she knew that their father was not a traitor to the crown that she just wanted to go home. She hoped for all of this and more, and each day she went to the Godswood to pray begging her father's gods to answer her prayers for freedom from Joffrey, from Cersei, for her and her father to be able to go home.

Moat Cailin was an ancient fortress that Jon had studied with Robb and Theon during his lessons with Maester Luwin as a boy. He knew the supposed history behind the fort, how it had been raised by the First Men some 10,000 years ago. It had been the key to holding the north for as long as it stood and any army marching from the South wishing to bypass the Moat would have to win the allegiance of House Reed- something that had never happened due to the Reeds undying loyalty to House Stark- of course armies had broken themselves against the Moat coming from the south for neigh on thousands of years, it was definitely an imposing fortress.

The northern army containing 12,000 men from Houses Stark, Karstark, Bolton, Glover, Hornwood, Cerwyn, Umber, Dustin, Ryswell and soon Manderly made camp within the site of the fortress. The direwolf banner of House Stark flew from the three remaining towers, Karstark claimed the Drunkard's Tower, and Umber the Children's Tower and Robb claimed the Gatehouse Tower as his own. After helping the men unpack and unload the tents and some supplies for the night, Jon found himself sitting in with Robb for their first proper war council meeting.

Jon spent most of the council meeting merely listening to what Lords Umber, Karstark and Bolton had to say. Lord Umber was all for engaging Tywin Lannister in full on battle, stating that the old lion would not expect the full force of the north to be upon him and that if they attacked him first then they'd catch him with his breeches down around his ankles. However, Lords Bolton and Karstark argued against such a plan suggesting that Tywin Lannister was no fool and would expect Robb to be leading the assault on his army, and would try and use that to his advantage and that if they did attack Tywin's army they would be at risk of being attacked in the rear by Jamie Lannister's host. The discussion went on for some time, with Lord Dustin suggesting that instead of engaging one single Lannister host why not split the Northern host into two and send one force to attack the Kingslayer and the other to attack Lord Tywin, for as Lord Dustin put it that was something neither Lannister would not expect and would more than likely throw their plans off. Though in order for them to be able to maintain the element of surprise they would need Lord Frey's help, for Old Walder Frey's bridge was the only proper crossing that the Northern army could hope to take if they wished to avoid detection. The discussion raged for what seemed like hours with various Lords either throwing their support in behind Lord Umber's or Lord Dustin's suggestions. Throughout it all though Jon noted that Robb kept his expression blank and gave no hint as to what he actually thought of the ideas being bandied about the room.

That was until he finally spoke "Enough my lords. We have heard two main strategies from both Lords Umber and Dustin that have merit. If we are to keep the element of surprise and use it to our advantage then we shall need to have Lord Frey on our side, we shall need his bridge and his men. Jon what do you think we should do?"

Jon was completely caught out by Robb's question he hadn't even thought about voicing his own opinion though he agreed with Lord Dustin, and he could tell from looking around the room that some of the Lords obviously gave two figs as to what he thought about their battle plans. Clearing his throat, Jon said in as confident a voice as he could manage " I believe that whilst Lord Umber's suggestion has merit and whilst it would be nice to catch Old Lord Tywin with his breeches down for us to make a laughingstock of him, Lord Dustin's suggestion does have more merit. Send someone experienced in to lead the attack on Tywin Lannister's host someone who knows how the man's mind works, and I believe my Lord that you should lead the attack on the Kingslayer's host. The man is known to be rash and impulsive lead the attack and you'll draw him out and play on his arrogance. Lead the attack my lord and Riverrun is as good as ours." Jon finished speaking and then the hall was silent for a moment before it broke out into rapturous applause.

Lords Umber, Karstark and Dustin could be heard saying "Hear Hear." Jon frankly was surprised that what he had said had gotten the Northern Lords so pumped up, he had thought that he was just giving a simple suggestion only to realise that he was being tested as well. Robb's bannermen had tested him at Winterfell and when Greywind had bitten two of the Greatjon's fingers off he had passed that test, now it seemed that Robb had been in on the testing and judging by the look of pride on his face Jon had passed with flying colours. He felt a rush of pride and felt his cheeks heat it felt to be recognised for something other than being Eddard Stark's bastard for once.

The applause had just begun to die down when, Jon saw Ghost and Greywind perk up and move toward the entrance to the room where the council was being held, turning round to see who it was Jon nearly leapt out of his seat. It was Lady Catelyn standing there in the room looking at him and Robb with an unreadable expression on her face whilst Ghost and Greywind padded around her and sniffed her hands.

Jon looked at Robb and could tell that Robb too wanted to leap out of his chair and throw himself into their mother's arms, but would not do such a thing in front of his bannermen and so he merely stood up and said "Mother, I did not expect to see you here."

To which Lady Catelyn replied "I did not expect to be here. But here I am."

Lord Bolton, Jon noticed was watching Lady Catelyn intently before he asked "My lady as nice as it is to see you, you would not per chance have the Imp still with you? For if you do we could use him as a hostage."

Lady Catelyn grimaced and said "Unfortunately not my Lords. I did have him as a prisoner but the gods and my fool of a sister saw fit to release him." At this many of the lords began to mutter amongst themselves but a look from Robb and they were quieted.

Lady Catelyn continued "I hope you do not mind my Lords, but I brought with me a guest from the Vale, my uncle Ser Brynden Tully." Jon's eyes nearly expanded looking at the man standing in front of him with his dark red Tully hair, he looked like a much older version of Robb, the man was a legend, Jon had grown up hearing about the Blackfish's exploits in the War of the Ninepenny Kings and during Robert's Rebellion.

Robb nodded in acknowledgement to his great uncle before saying "My Lords it has been a long and tiring day. I am sure you all wish to retire for the night, I give you leave to do so. Mother, Jon if you could stay behind I would speak with you. You too uncle." As the Lords walked out of the hall, Jon saw Theon hovering by the door way and Jon knew he wanted to stay and for a moment Jon wondered why Robb hadn't asked him to, but then Jon saw Robb nod to Theon and the Ironborn walked out of the room closing the doors behind him.

All was silent for a moment before Robb spoke "It is nice to see you again mother. You know what has happened to father and the girls yes?"

Lady Catelyn nodded and said "Yes, Lord Manderly told me when I arrived at White Harbour. I sent Ser Rodrik off to hold Winterfell until we return upon hearing the news."

Robb nodded then said "There was a letter for you from the capital, from Sansa, it contains the same words as the letter she sent to me, and so I did not bring yours." Robb handed their mother the piece of paper that condemned their father as a traitor to the crown and demanded that Robb ride to King's Landing to swear fealty to Joffrey.

Jon watched his adopted mother's face as she read the words that were written by Sansa but said by the Queen and once she had finished reading she said "These words may have been written in Sansa's hands but come from Cersei Lannister. With there being no mention of Arya we can only assume that they do not have her and pray that she stays safe and manages to make her way back to us before it is too late. All this about the Lannisters being kind to her is rubbish; I know a threat when I see one. But enough about the letter tell me Robb what do you plan on doing now that you have command of the army, could you not have given command to someone else?"

Jon saw the way his brother's jaw clenched at their mother's words and was about to speak out in defence of him when Robb replied "I am the Lord of Winterfell in father's absence mother. I will not call my banners and let someone else lead them; I will not have it said that I let others do my work, father led a host to war when he was but a few years older than men. I have Jon with me as well and I shall lead."

Lady Catelyn sighed then and said "Very well then, but tell me what do you plan on doing? How do you plan on fighting the Lannisters?"

Robb looked at Jon then and Jon looked at Robb and together they said "We need Walder Frey's bridge if we hope to cross with our whole might. Once that has been achieved the host shall be split into two with one army marching onto the Green Fork to take on Tywin Lannister's host the other will take on the Kingslayer's."

Catelyn nodded in approval as did the Blackfish, but then the Blackfish asked "I would not rely on Old Walder to be so willing to give you his bridge my lord. During Robert's Rebellion the man waited until well into the battle of the Trident before he joined his strength to that of your father's. He is a cautious man by nature and age will have made him more so, he will want you to pay a toll and pay it you shall have to if you wish to cross."

Robb nodded in understanding and said "I understand that uncle and I am willing to pay, but we need that bridge if we are to cross harmlessly. As to who shall lead the armies, I shall lead the one that fights the Kingslayer and I was thinking of perhaps giving The Greatjon control over the host to fight Tywin Lannister."

At this Lady Catelyn spoke up "I would council against sending Lord Umber to lead the army against Tywin Lannister Robb. Lord Umber is a proud and aggressive man and may not be adept at sneaking up on Lord Tywin unawares. You want someone who can do so without giving away your own position."

Jon knew who she was talking about then and looked at Robb and said "Lord Bolton Robb, Lord Bolton is that person he'll be able to sneak up on Lord Tywin and buy us time."

Robb nodded in agreement and said "Very well then, that is settled we ride for the Twins at first light tomorrow."

After her meeting with Robb was done Catelyn spent a bit of time talking to her son and her adopted son finding out how they were doing and how things had been at Winterfell when they had left. Speaking to both Robb and Jon, Catelyn felt that both her boys had gone from being boys to men in a matter of seconds, but she could see that in the way the spoke and held themselves they were both Ned's sons no matter the truth of Jon's parentage. Though she did admit that there was something in the way Jon held himself that vaguely reminded her of Prince Rhaegar at Harrenhal all those years ago, and when Jon showed her a letter that he had found in Winterfell before he had left and asked her if she knew what it meant she lied and said she didn't but inside she felt her nerves begin to grow, Jon was getting closer to finding out the truth about who he was and she knew that for him to truly understand Ned would need to be here to explain why they had done what they had done all those years ago.

It was with these thoughts in her head that she accidentally walked into Lord Dustin.

"Pardon me my lord, I was lost in thought and did not see you." She said apologetically.

Lord Dustin merely smiled at her and said "Not to worry my lady." He was about to continue walking on when Catelyn saw him stop and turn round and say to her "My lady I have one question to ask of you."

Catelyn wondered what that question could be, and for a moment remembered that Lord Dustin had been at the Tower of Joy with Ned, and more than likely knew the truth of Jon's parentage.

It seemed her thoughts were proven right when he said "He's getting closer to finding out the truth isn't he?"

Catelyn replied "I know neither what you mean nor who you speak of my lord?"

Lord Dustin gave her a sad smile and said "Of course you don't my lady. The boy, Ned's bastard, who's not really his bastard he's getting closer to knowing the truth about his parentage isn't he?"

This time Catelyn could only nod.

Lord Dustin spoke again "I was there when Ned found him my lady. I was there when Ned came out of the tower with his sister's babe and not his sister; I know he was haunted by what he found out. I also know that Jon Snow thinks of the both of you as his parents, though others whisper otherwise. I also know that he could be our hope of winning this war without too much bloodshed. If we were to fight to put him on the throne then the Tyrells would rally to our cause as would Dorne. Think on what I have said my lady." And with that Lord Dustin walked away into the night leaving Catelyn chilled to her bones.

She knew that if she told Jon the truth he may believe her or he might not, but if he did believe her they could bring the Tyrells into the fold, but of course old Walder Frey would want his daughter to marry the King if Jon were to go that route. But she knew also that Ned had promised his sister that Jon would be protected from those who wished to use him simply for his last name. She would need to speak to her uncle and of course to Jon before anyone else could talk to him.

His cell was cold and painful, a fitting punishment he thought, a fitting punishment for a traitor. Not a traitor to King Joffrey no, for Joffrey was no true king of that Ned was sure of, but a traitor to his friend's memory and to his family. How could he have been so stupid as to put his own honour or that of Cersei Lannister's before the safety of his children? How could he have told her what he meant to do? Now he had been reward with a place in the Black Cells of the Red Keep where they had kept Brandon years ago when he had come charging in to the Red Keep demanding Prince Rhaegar's head.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of feet pattering along the cobbled floors. Straining his neck up to see who it was who was coming to visit him he was surprised to see Varys standing in front of his cell with a beard and skin of water.

"Oh you look surprised to see me, my lord Hand." Varys tittered.

Ned did not reply and waited for Varys to continue.

"I do wonder what fit of madness spurred you on to declare in front of half the court that Joffrey was not Robert's son." The eunuch said.

"The madness of mercy." Ned rasped his voice hoarse with disuse.

"Ah mercy, such a fickle thing. And look where that mercy has gotten you Lord Stark, a cell in deepest recesses of the Red Keep's dungeons. You know I do think this is the same cell that Mad King Aerys kept your brother Brandon in." Varys tittered.

"Why are you here Varys? Have you come to taunt me? Like Baelish did?" Ned questioned

Varys sighed and said "No my Lord, I have not come to taunt you as for Baelish that was one snake you should never have trusted. The man plays for his own gain, that you came to him when the attempt on your boy Bran happened merely suited him. No Baelish is one snake you should not have trusted."

Ned had to give a little raspy laugh at that, "And I can trust you Lord Varys? You who stood by when Joffrey had me imprisoned when Cersei had those Lannister men kill my men, who pushed my son out of a window to hide her sins from the world. Pray tell me Lord Varys why should I trust you?"

Varys laughed at that before replying "Why my Lord that's just the thing you can't trust me in fact you should never trust a spider or for that matter anyone in this city. You saw how Ser Barristan stood by whilst you were arrested, the man saw the words Robert Baratheon wrote down naming you protector of the realm and yet when his Queen ordered your arrest he did nothing. No I have come to offer you hope. The Queen shall be visiting you in a few days time to give you the chance for freedom if you denounce Stannis and Renly as usurpers and that Joffrey is the rightful king, if you promise to do that and to take her secret to the grave with you, she shall allow you to take the black. Freeing her to deal with Stannis and Renly as your son would not be marching south."

Ned was shocked "Robb's marching south? He is but a boy!"

"Ah but a boy with an army. Think on it my lord, announce Joffrey as the true king and you and your daughter the Lady Sansa can go home back to Winterfell, and you can take the Lady Arya your other daughter home with you as well."

"You would have me play a part in a mummer's farce and declare for a boy who I know not to be the rightful king, and allow his mother to continue her little masquerade. And insult my friend's memory?!" Ned asked

Varys sighed "I would have you do what is right to allow innocent people to live Lord Stark. Surely that is not hard to for you do."

Ned sighed and said "Very well then I shall accept Cersei Lannister's proposal, for the safety of my girls."

Varys said nothing for a moment and said "Besides it need not be forever your time at the wall. For we both know that Joffrey is not the rightful king, nor are Stannis or Renly. In fact we both know that the rightful king of Westeros is in fact marching south with your boy as we speak."

Ned felt a cold tendril of fear capture him, "How? How?"

Varys laughed "How do I know the truth of Jon Snow's parentage?" Oh my Lord Stark, surely you did not think I earned the name the Spider for simply having ears in the capital no. I have ears everywhere my lord but of course this one did not take long to figure out. Did you truly think that everyone would not question the story that three of the finest knights of Aerys Kingsguard including the Lord Commander were absent throughout the whole rebellion simply to guard your sister in Dorne? No, those who believe that story believe it because they wish to and because it suits their own ends. No I know that they were guarding Rhaegar's child with your sister and later when Jon Snow was born a boy and news of the sack reached them, they were guarding their rightful king. Jon Snow is not a snow is he Lord Eddard? Rightfully he should be Jon Targaryen, First of His Name, King of the Seven Kingdoms."

Ned felt dread pool up in the pit of his stomach, his promise to Lya made all those years ago echoing in his head. "What do you want Varys?"

Varys said in a much deeper voice than before "Only what is right my Lord. Only what is right."