Chapter Text
“She’s his daughter!” Robert yelled. “The daughter of the man who raped your sister beyond count. And you want to take her and raise her at Winterfell!”
“She’s also my sister’s daughter, the daughter of the woman you say that you love beyond any sort of measurement,” Ned replied coldly as he held Joanna close to him. “And yes. I want her with me at Winterfell. I’ve already written to Catelyn about it, asked her to prepare a room for Joanna when she arrived with our son.”
Robert seemed to almost crackle with fury and Ned hated Jon Arryn in this moment. Ned had told his foster father about Joanna and that she was not his bastard as he had already told others, that she was in truth Rhaegar and Lyanna’s child, that she was their true-born child. Ned knew that it was foolish, but he thought he could trust Jon not to tell.
But Jon had thought that Robert would understand that Joanna was innocent, that the crimes of her father were not hers.
Ned thought that Jon was an idiot and couldn’t stop the glares he was sending to the man though in all fairness to Jon, Ned knew that he was even more of an idiot. Jon, to his credit, was trying to repair the damage as best he could. “Robert, she’s an infant, and a girl at that. When she marries, that will be the end of the Targaryen line.”
“And what happens when her sons decide that my throne should be theirs?”
“Then marry her to a son you might have one day, or to Renly even.”
Robert practically growled. “I don’t want a dragon anywhere near my family.”
“Might I remind you of your grandmother and what exactly your claim is to be King?” Ned snapped.
Robert jolted out of the Iron Throne as if to throttle Ned and Ned looked for a safe person to give Joanna to while him and Robert fought. He decided that Barristan Selmy was a safe bet, but Selmy was gripping the hilt of his sword tightly and Ned thought better. He wasn’t sure who exactly Selmy was gripping his sword for.
He had his answer with Selmy’s words. “She’s not even a month old! And you plan on killing her?”
Robert’s eyes narrowed. “She’s dragonspawn.”
“She’s Lya’s daughter!” Ned yelled.
“And his!”
“We’ve already been through this, and the only way you’ll be able to get to her is if you can kill me!”
“And me,” said Selmy. Howland Reed moved silently to stand next to Ned. “Me too.” To Ned’s surprise, Jaime Lannister came to his other side, his chin high and his eyes burning as he looked at Robert. “Aerys’ hands were soaked with blood, but it was only his hands that were. Joanna Targaryen is innocent.”
Robert looked over all of them. He could probably win a fight against Ned, but only Ned. Howland, Jaime, and Barristan were all better than Ned when it came to fighting and Robert would have no hope against the four of them.
Lysa Arryn, his new good-sister, walked up to him to take Joanna from his arms. Jon tried to stop her, but she shrugged him off and took the little girl. She smiled at Ned as she did so. “Don’t worry,” she whispered. “I’ll keep her safe.”
She smiled as she rocked Joanna and moved back to the wall of the Red Keep, sending only a quick glare to Rober as she did so. Ned made a mental note to let Lysa know that there was a standing invitation to her to come to Winterfell whenever she wished.
“Robert,” Ned said softly. “Please. Don’t make us rip this kingdom in half over another war when it hasn’t even started to heal from this one.”
Robert closed his eyes. He looked defeated and nothing like the friend Ned knew. Or really, thought he knew. “Very well. Do what you wish, but know that you and me are no longer friends, from this moment on. Consider this one last gift from me.”
“I’m sure it was very hard,” Ned snapped, “to decide that killing an innocent child was not the right thing to do. And know that I will not be in King’s Landing much longer. We’re leaving tonight.”
Ned turned around and stormed out of the Red Keep, ignoring Robert yelling at Selmy and Lannister, Howland Reed and Lysa both following after him. He quickly grabbed Joanna from Lysa’s arms and held her close. He leaned back against a wall and breathed heavily. “Thank you, Lysa,” he said. “Please feel free to come to Winterfell whenever you wish.”
Lysa nodded. “Thank you, Lord Stark. I’m sure I’ll take you up on that soon. I’d love to see Joanna again, and meet Robb.”
Ned nodded. “Please do. Howland, can you please inform everyone that they need to start packing. It’s best if we leave the city before nightfall.”