Winterfell

Lyonel POV

Winterfell was a huge castle, defended by two massive walls, it was an impressive sight to see. Even Joffrey who is riding by my side is looking around for something that he could insult or complain about, but it is not easy to find some flaws in it. There could be only a few reasons to not like this castle, firstly it lacks color, even if Starks like they grey, to me it looks dull. The second flaw would that is old, I can see some cracks along walls and towers, this castle needs a renovation. Well, it has been hundreds of years that Winterfell tasted any kind of siege.

The welcoming ceremony went smoothly, even when father decided to ditch us and went with lord Stark to the crypts, if I remember correctly it would be there where he appoints Lord Stark as the King's hand. Mother controls her anger expertly if I had not known her, I would thought she was fine with it.

Damn, I want one of these dire wolves, I only had a glimpse at them and they look majestic as fuck. I should get some lion cup, when I come back to King's landing, how hard it would be to train one. Stark children seem enthusiastic to meet us. I can see how Arya is looking at Tyrion as some beast at the zoo, I would be angry if she was not a little girl with eyes full of curiosity and marvel.

The dinner would be fine if not for how lord Stark is staring at me. I saw Tyrion go outside when Jon Snow left and then Sansa looking fascinating at Joffrey as he talks about his exaggerated hunting stories. As was sitting with Robb and Theon, I hear Sansa scream as Arya threw some food at her.

"What a lively family you have, Lord Stark," I say to Robb with a wide smile.

"Lord stark is my father, my prince, please call me Robb." He asks me embarrassingly.

"That may be true, but it seems to me that your father already agreed to go to the capital to become the Hand, once he leaves it will be you who becomes lord Stark of the Winterfell." He seems surprised at the news but accepts it too.

"Even then I would prefer if called me Robb, my prince, there no need for formalities especially at the dining table." He insists on it.

"So be it, lord Robb, but you wrong about formalities, they are must especially at the dining table." I hope he learns this fast.

"I heard you are a great warrior, even knights twice your age can't defeat you," Greyjoy says,

"Only those who bought the titles, not those who earned it," I answer him, acting humble but still admitting it. "Well, you learn if it's true or not tomorrow."

"Yes, we will," Greyjoy respond with a smirk that suspiciously looks like Joffrey's one.

...

It was after dinner when I was enjoying the night sky, it is a little different than in the South, somehow the sky feels a little bit closer here, Jon Snow was cleaning the training equipment. At first, he did not notice me, but when I got up and walked to him, he saw me in the moonlight.

"My prince, I am sorry, I did not notice you here." He was quick to apologize.

"No need to worry, tell me to you always train in so late," I ask him with a smile.

"Only if can't sleep, my prince." He replies looking around nervously.

"I see, I do that too, it was Tyrion's words that not let you sleep, is it?" I ask. "No need to tell me what you talked about, his words sometimes have a bit too much weight in them."

"Aye, they did have, I should be going." He answers and turns around.

"Before you go, I heard you wanted to join the Night's Watch." He turns to look at me and then nods. "I give some advice to you the people that are there, they are desperate, without anywhere else to go, they are not trained or learned men. What I am trying to say you much more than they could ever imagine, so they will be jealous of you, so do not take it as an insult to you."

"I understand what you trying to say, thank you, my prince." He replies after a moment of thinking.

"Ah, you would have learned that anyway, I am not smart as Tyrion, but you should not think of what you are, no matter where you are always remember who you are, because titles do not make people, is people that make the titles." With those words he leaves me alone, I like the night sky. No matter how dark it is you can still see the specks of light, they are always there, it makes me feel like I am not alone.

…

The next morning I got up early to do some exercise and stretches Even though Robb was one year older than me, I don't see how could I lose to him, what I worry about is how to make friends with him, I want him to respect me and when the war with the Others begin he would be a strong ally. As I was going to the courtyard, where the practice fields are met Joffrey on his way there too.

"Well, little brother, it seems we are going the same direction, are you too want to test your skill against the Stark boys?" I ask him as he turns to meet me.

"Of course, I want to show those Northmen how good I am with my sword skills." He answer's me, I start to worry that he believes his lies.

"Now, I thought that you trained two or three times a month with ser Blount, or I am wrong." Maybe he trains secretly with ser Jaime and now is confident about his skills.

"What it matters how much I train, two times a month is enough when you train with a king's guard, one of the finest swords in the realm." His statement might have been true, but when you see ser Blount's gut that only is smaller than Robert's, you have to wonder how fine a sword he could be.

"Do not underestimate the "Northman" Ser Rodrik is a fine knight and he trains Starks every day I know you want to show off, but demonstrate your basics and be done with it, do not taunt them and show respect when you defeated," I tell him with a serious voice.

"Why should I listen to you and besides there no way they can defeat me." He whines as usual when things don't go his way.

"Because I am your big brother and if you don't I give you to the Hound for some practice, even your mother won't help you then." He shudders at the thought of practicing with the Hound, he had seen how much beating I take on the regular days.

"Fine, fine I won't be disrespectful to the Starks, why do even care about them so much?" He seems surprised.

"There are reasons and even if you don't like them, lord Stark will be the Hand of the King only second to our father, so you should show some respect," I state as we reach the courtyard, it seems everything is already prepared for the practice.

"Are you ready, my princes, for the practice?" Ask ser Rodrik as he is readying the blunt swords for us to use.

"Why, of course, why don't you go first Joffrey?" I tell my brother. "If that is fine with lord Robb, of course, even though my brother a couple of years younger than us, he should test his skills against older boys."

"It is fine, I glad to show some of my skills to younger ones too," Robb answers before Greyjoy remarks something stupidly.

The fight was not long, but at least Joffrey did not embarrass himself, it seems he knows the basics. It was a good idea to force him to these sword practices, he at least knows how to protect himself. After some comments from ser Rodrik, it is my turn to test my steel against someone older.

"A fine fight, little brother, go rest a little bit," I order him with my eyes, as he seems to say something stupid.

"Fine." That is the only thing he mutters as leaves the arena.

"Are you ready lord Robb, or maybe Greyjoy wants to go first and let you rest?" I ask, but I know he's too prideful to not accept my challenge.

"It fine I am rested well, we can start whenever you want." I was right, but it is true even if he has some sweat on his forehead, he is breathing normally.

So the fight begins as I pick up a bastard sword. Robb lunges at me as he wants to prove me something, I simply sidestep and let him miss me, not surprised at my dodge he swipes his sword at me, what he is surprised at is how easily block it. He is strong but not strong as the Hound. I push him away and thrust my sword at his chest he had to leap back to avoid it.

"It seems you well trained, my prince." He says with an uneasy smile when he realizes that I have not moved from my position at all.

"Well, of course, I had the most legendary and finest knights to teach me, no offense but I don't think ser Rodrik is good as them," I answer as I step and strike Robb from the above.

He blocks my strike, but that was a mistake as I kick him in the unprotected stomach he understands that too. I let him grasp for the air as he straightens himself. I move forward and swipe my sword at his legs, he blocks it and I headbutt his face. He did not aspect him as took few steps back.

"It seems you learn how to fight dirty too from these knights," Robb says as he is checking if his nose is not bleeding.

"No, I learn that from a sellsword," I reply with a smile.

"So you admit you fight not fair." I look to the voice who says that and see Bran looking at me angrily.

"Fair? I could tell you, as every soldier and knight that are there, there are no fair fights, but what I believe in the fight you are the weapon, and the sword is just extension of yourself." I explain to him calmly.

"Well said, prince Lyonel, you should always fight with everything you have, it serves well for you to learn to use your head in a fight, even if it means literally as the prince did here." Ser Rodrik criticizes Robb and Bran.

"Should we continue or maybe you had enough for today, lord Robb." I could not but taunt him a little.

"Let's continue, it would be bad if I did no learn anything from you." He responds to me with a smile and lunges at me again.

This time deflect the attack and as I was counter him with my swipe, he hits me in the chest with his shoulder. It seems he learns fast. I step back and block his next attack. His strikes becoming more powerful with each one, but I see he is starting to exhaust himself with it. As he takes a wide swing, I attack him, only at the last moment, he manages to block it. With each strike, he is pushed back, until lastly I strike his hand and he drops his sword.

"It seems, it is mine win," I say while pointing my sword at his neck. "Do you yield?"

"Aye, I yield, you have won." He answers me while breathing hard.

"It was a good fight, my prince, my lord" Ser Rodrik compliments us.

…

Eddard POV

"Have you summoned me, Lord Stark?" I hear prince Lyonel ask as he enters my solar.

"Aye, I have. It seems my son has taken a liking to you, my prince." I mention my son Bran who started to follow the prince everywhere he goes.

"Well I did promise to teach him some moves before I leave Winterfell, so he decided that it best be close to me to not miss a chance to ask for practice." He responds with a thin smile.

"Firstly I have to thank you for your support of the night watch." I start with appreciating his work with protecting The Wall. "But your concern with stability of the north is unneeded."

"Ah, is about father's proposal, have you agreed to it?" At least he is straightforward about it.

"No, I have not, but your argument is only partly right, indeed I prepared to marry my heir with a daughter of Lord of the North to ensure the loyalty of my lords, but I do not need to marry all my children to the North," I explain to him. "Seeing as you against his proposal of marriage, I thought to listen to your reasons."

"I see, firstly indeed you don't have to carry all your children to the North, but will you ensure the loyalty of your lords though only one wedding. Maybe I don't know the political environment of the North, but I do believe that lady Dustin does not like for not even bringing her late husband's bones back home and I did hear quite a bit of rumor how Ramsay Snow, bastard of Roose Bolton, is hinting smallfolk with this dogs as some kind of game, and not long ago the heir, Domeric Bolton, died somehow after visiting said bastard." He spoke undisturbed at the things that happened, that even I did not know. "So maybe you're right it seems north is peaceful as it ever has been,"

"How to know about what Ramsay is doing?" I did hear there were bandits in Bolton lands, but if what he says is true is even more serious.

"Oh, you know from gossip and all that… Alright to you truly think I would not send spies with the men to the Wall." He answers seriously after I direct my hard look at him. "It does not matter, because you will not have time to deal with, after all, you're needed in the capital as the Hand of the King."

It seems I should have decline Robert, first there a disturbance in the north of the wall, with missing rangers and rising wildings raids. Now if what the prince says is true Boltons are conspiring something of their own, but I already accepted it and can't turn it down especially if what Lysa wrote about the Lannister conspiracy is true.

"Secondly I have already planned marriages for myself and my siblings." The prince continues.

"Have you now?" I ask. Should it not be your parents who decide these things, I wonder.

"Yes, the most sensible union would be between me and Margaery Tyrell. The Tyrells need us to solidify the control of the Reach and we need them for gold." He explains his reason calmly.

"Gold why would you need gold, especially from Tyrell, can your grandfather not lend you some?" Aren't Lannisters the richest house in Westeros?

"He can and he did, it seems father forgotten to tell you that we already own about three million gold coins to him." He reveals the shocking news with a calm voice.

"Are you telling the Crown to own a debt of three million?" I try to ask him while keeping myself calm, Robert has a lot of explaining to do.

"No, the Crowns does not have a debt of three million coins." So it was a misunderstanding. "The Crown owns a debt of six million gold coins."

"What?"

Lyonel POV

It seems that there was already a conversation like this or I am mistaken, was it not my Father who told this to lord Stark in the books, ah, it doesn't matter anymore.

"Calm down lord Stark, is not as a big deal as it seems, once I married lady Margaery, I will demand them to cancel the debt and I ask to grandfather the same, then we pay the rest of the debt slowly over time to the Iron Bank," I explain to him so he could calm down. "Now let's talk about what you need to know at the capital."

"What I need to know?" It didn't take a long time for him to calm down.

"Yes, firstly let me ask have you gotten any letter from lady Lysa about the death of her husband lord Arryn?" I ask even though I know the answer. "No need to overact, she did leave very fast, like she was running from somewhere, she could at least tell her sister why she did it."

"Yes you're right we did receive a letter from her." It looks like I have to push him harder to be honest with me.

"Let me guess she accused the Lannisters of killing lord Arryn." His eyes got shaken a little bit, that all I need to know that I am right. "What I going to tell seem absurd to you and you later can talk to your lady wife about it, but I have to ask you to promise not to tell it anyone, not even my father."

"Fine, I promise if what you tell is true, it seems you know everything already." After exchanging long stares, he finally promised.

"It was lady Lysa who killed her husband," I tell him.

Eddard POV

"What?" How could that be possible, no it can't be true?

"I don't have any evidence of this of yet, but think about, before lord Arryn's body turn cold she had run away to the Vale. You could say that she was afraid, but why nobody tries to stop her and how could she know it was Lannisters that killed her husband. The only reason she blames it on others is if she tried to shift the blame from herself." What he says is true but there still something that doesn't add up.

"Even if what you are telling me is true, there still question of why, why would she kill lord Arryn?" What kind of reason would she have to kill him, I just don't understand.

"There is a couple of reasons, firstly lord Arryn wanted his son and heir to foster with my uncle Stannis, but lady Lysa didn't like it, she loves her son a little too much and won't let him leave her even for a moment." I did hear that Lysa had trouble with childbirth and it could have been difficult to separate her from her only child. "Second reason is more complicated, I believe that master of coin, Petyr Baelish is the one who ordered lord Arryn to be killed and it is known that he and lady Lysa are good friends, I suspect they were more than friends."

"Petyr Baelish?" Where did he fit in this madness?

"Yes, you see I and lord Arryn were investigating him for stealing from the Crown, I don't know how close he got, but it could have put lord Baelish in the corner, so he had killed him and then tell lady Lysa to send a letter that frames the Lannisters." Madness, this is utter madness.

"We have to tell him to Robert, how could he let his happen?" I can't believe this.

"With what evidence, just a word of a boy, don't be foolish. Even if he believes it and accused lady Lysa without any evidence, she now controls the Vale, it will be war and you know it." Damn this.

"So what should we do then?" I have to do something.

"There where you come in, lord Baelish doesn't know that I worked with lord Arryn, he probably thinks that his tracks are hidden when you come to the court, he will try to befriend you, then lead you to goose chase to frame Lannisters as the villain, it is so easy to hate them after all." It seems he has a plan for everything. "Let him lead you, let him befriend you and while you distract him, I will find evidence that we need."

"You want to use me to deceive him?" Are there no honorable people in Kings Landing?

"You could say that deception is a powerful weapon after all, if you do as I say we can bring justice without causing a war." It is the only option we have, what has this world come to.

"Fine, if it for the good of the realm, I will help you." Yes for the good of the realm.

"Well do not tell of this to anyone, you can't trust anyone in the capital, not even kingsguard. I suspect Mandon Moore is working with lord Baelish, Boros Blount and Meryn Trant are only loyal to my mother, so we will be alone."

It seems I will not have a peaceful night.