Chapter 10

A/N: Bonus chapter! Here's a chapter from Jaxon's perspective.

Jaxon Greystark

They should've left Kings Landing by now, but Ned had insisted they stop at a brothel, to see another of King Robert's bastards. Why, Jaxon would never know, the longer they stayed the more dangerous it was for them. Lady Catelyn had arrived at the capitol saying the Lannisters were behind Bran's fall, and Joffrey had sent an assassin to finish him off. Ned believed her, though he scolded her for killing the cutthroat and Jaxon was both proud of his nephew and disappointed at the same time for his foolishness. Then it had gotten worse, Lady Catelyn had captured Tyrion Lannister and took him to her sister in the Vale, and the Queen had been outraged, and it didn't help that Ned claimed his wife had been acting on his command.

Jaxon wanted to go home, not to Winterfell, but to Stone Keep, to be with his family. He was shocked and saddened to hear of his brother's death, they hadn't spoken since Case had gone there to foster, and even then it had been very formal and devoid of emotion. I'm sorry brother, I wasn't fast enough, forgive me brother, now I am the last one left of us. He was the last of his brothers, and he had a feeling, deep in the pit of his stomach, that he didn't have long for this world. As he stood there in the hall, while that scum Baelish and Ned, were in the room speaking to the mother of Robert's most recent bastard, Jory and a couple more guardsmen were there too. Jaxon had told Ned they didn't need the men, but Ned had insisted.

Ned walked out of the room, followed by Baelish, and told them, "I've seen what I needed to see, we should go now, it's time we returned to Winterfell."

Jaxon and Jory nodded, and began to walk with Ned out of the brothel as they walked outside they saw something interesting and altogether not surprising. Here came the Kingslayer Jaime Lannister, followed by several Lannister men, "Such a small pack of wolves," said the Kingslayer arrogantly.

"Stand back Ser! This man is the Hand of the King," Jory exclaimed.

"Was the Hand of the King, now I'm not sure what he is, lord of somewhere very far away."

"What is the meaning of this Lannister," said Baelish.

"Get back inside where it's safe Littlefinger, I'm looking for my brother, you remember my brother Lord Stark? Blonde hair, sharp tongue, short man?"

"I remember him well," replied Ned.

"It seems he had some trouble on the road. You wouldn't know what happened to him, would you?"

"He was taken by my command to answer for his crimes."

"My Lords! I'll bring the City Watch!" Baelish exclaimed.

"Come, Stark. I'd rather you die sword in hand."

"If you threaten my Lord again..." Jory said as he stepped forward.

Jaxon then spoke for the first time, "Jory back up, leave the Kingslayer to me if it comes to that, and Lannister, do not threaten Lord Stark again."

"Threaten? As in, I'm going to open your Lord from balls to brains and see what Starks are made of?" The Kingslayer said, even more of his arrogance evident.

"You kill me, your brother's a dead man." Ned shouted at him.

"You're right. Take him alive! Kill his men!"

Jory, ignoring what Jaxon had told him, rushed forward to attack the Kingslayer. Jaxon tried to rush forward too but was stopped by two Lannister guardsmen. Jaxon sighed and drew his sword, and rushed to both men, cutting them down with practiced ease. Just as he ran up to where Jory was engaging the Kingslayer, he gave out a shout of anger when he saw Jory fall backwards, a knife in his eye. Jaxon rushed at the Kingslayer, attacking him in a fury as the prick smiled, "Finally an opponent that is worth my time."

Jaxon ignored the man's arrogant words as they began their dance of death. Lannister was good, very good, but he wasn't as good as he thought he was, and he was dreadfully out of practice. Jaxon trained twice a day, and would've been ashamed of himself for letting his skills slip at all. The Kingslayer was predictable and sluggish, and seemed to be tiring rather easily. Jaxon knew though if he was on the top of his game, it would be harder to determine the winner of this fight. There it was, the Kingslayer slipped up on a feint to Jaxon's head and left himself vulnerable, Jaxon head-butted him in the face and followed up with a kick to his chest, knocking the Kingslayer onto his back and pointing his sword at the man's throat. "Call off your men and I'll let you live."

"Funny," said a voice behind Jaxon, "I was about to say the same thing."

Jaxon turned to see a Lannister guardsman with his spear pointed at Ned's chest. Ned was laying on the ground, blood coming from a leg wound where he'd been stabbed from behind. Jaxon looked at the Kingslayer and sighed as he dropped his sword. The Kingslayer jumped up, the front of his shirt covered in blood from his nose, and retrieved his sword. He was angry, angry Jaxon had beat him and mounted the horse one of his men brought him.

"My brother Lord Stark, we want him back," Lannister said as he rode off, his men following him.

Jaxon then rushed over to Ned, laying on the ground, "I'm sorry Ned, I shouldn't have been so focused on the Kingslayer."

"Not your fault, they killed Heward and Wyl, threw spears through them, and Jory, oh Gods, I'm sorry Martyn, I'm so sorry," mercifully Ned passed out then, just as the Gold cloaks showed up.

"Get me a horse, I need to get Lord Stark to a maester. NOW!"

The gold cloaks brought one forward, Jaxon threw Ned on the back and rode hard for the Red Keep.

Ned had been bedridden for a while and when he finally could get up and move, he needed the assistance of a cane and everything went from bad to worse, King Robert had been on a hunt and was gored by a boar, he was as good as dead, and wouldn't last much longer. So the King had named Ned regent, to rule until Prince Joffrey came of age, but Jaxon knew Joffrey would never be king as long as Ned had anything to say about it, and Joffrey, the spoiled little shit, would never give up the throne willingly.

Renly Baratheon had come to Ned with a plan, to seize Cersei Lannister's children and take control, Jaxon knew Ned would refuse, and say Stannis was the rightful king, and he was right, and Stannis would be a better king then Renly anyway. The prancing fool knew nothing of war, or how to lead men, any that joined his cause would desert him after their first battle. Jaxon had told him as much and the man had fled the city, leaving Ned with no choice but to turn to Baelish for help, he had told them the city watch was on their side. Jaxon had disapproved, but Ned said Lady Catelyn trusted him and had brokered no argument, so Jaxon had held his tongue, like he had so many times before.

They were going to the throne room "King Joffrey" had summoned them and Jaxon knew there would be blood. He was putting on his armor, he rarely wore it nowadays, he was getting older and walking around in armor hurt more than it helped, but it was good armor, strong and well-crafted. He buckled on his sword, part of him wished it was the valryian steel of Flayed Man's Folly, but he would rather die than allow it to fall into the hands of some fat southern lord who had a lot of gold or Gods forbid Joffrey take it, because Jaxon knew Canas would cut his way through anyone to reclaim their family's sword.

As they walked in a servant announced "All hail his Grace, Joffrey of Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the first of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." Jaxon rolled his eyes, this boy was a bigger fool than he thought.

"I command the council to make all necessary arrangements for my coronation," Joffrey was saying as they walked in, "I wish to be crowned within the fortnight. Today I shall accept oaths of fealty from my loyal councilors."

"Ser Barristan, I believe no man here could ever question your honor,"said Ned as he handed Ser Barristan King Robert's will.

"King Robert's seal. Unbroken," said Ser Barristan as he opened it up and read its contents. "Lord Eddard Stark is herein named Protector of the Realm, to rule as Regent until the heir come of age."

"May I see that letter, Ser Barristan?" said Cersei as she held out her hand. "Protector of the realm. Is this meant to be your shield, Lord Stark? A piece of paper?" She said as she ripped up the paper in front of the whole court, Jaxon shook his head, this will end in blood.

"Those were the King's words," said Ser Barristan, the shock evident in his voice.

"We have a new King now. Lord Eddard, when we last spoke you offered me some counsel.
Allow me to return the courtesy. Bend the knee, My Lord. Bend the knee and swear loyalty to my son and we shall allow you to live out your days in the gray waste you call home."
"Your son has no claim to the throne," replied Ned.

"LIAR!" Joffrey shouted.

"You condemn yourself with your own mouth, Lord Stark. Ser Barristan, seize this traitor," said Cersei with a smirk.

"Ser Barristan is a good man, a loyal man. Do him no harm," said Ned as Jaxon drew his sword and moved in front of Ned.

"You think he stands alone?" Cersei shouted at them.

"Kill him! Kill all of them, I command it!" shrieked Joffrey, the boy had no idea what he had just done.

"Commander! Take the Queen and her children into custody. Escort them back to the royal apartments and keep them there, under guard," commanded Ned.

"Men of the Watch!" shouted Janos Slynt their commander.

"I want no bloodshed." said Ned. "Tell your men to lay down their swords. No one needs to die."

"Now!" shouted Baelish and all hell broke loose, the City Watch betrayed them and began attacking Stark men and all bets were off.

Before they had gone to throne room Ned had told him. If we are betrayed or overwhelmed, I am the only one that they will take alive, if that happens, get to the Queen, if you hold her at sword point we might be able to get out, and that is exactly what Jaxon did. He was lunging forward and cut Ser Boros Blount of the Kingsguard down before the man could move, two Lannister guardsmen rushed forward then and Jaxon took them down with ease, cutting one's throat and hamstringing the other before stabbing him while he was on the ground. Jaxon looked directly at Cersei and Joffrey, and saw fear in their eyes.

"Dog! Dog! Kill him!" shouted the scared little boy.

Here came Sandor Clegane, The Hound. Jaxon had wanted to kill this man since he threatened his son. Here he came wielding a large broadsword, Jaxon didn't even bother trying to block his swings, he dodged and ducked around the man until he was got behind him and stabbed him in the back of knee. However, before he could finish the man, he saw a flash of white armor and turned to see Ser Barristan striding towards him with his sword drawn, a rematch from the Battle of the Ruby Ford. Jaxon swung a mighty downward stroke at the old knight, and their blades locked together.

"I'm sorry Jaxon," said Ser Barristan, "but you deserve an honorable death and I am the only one that can give it to you."

Their fight began in earnest, people that witnessed it said it looked like both men were wielding four swords, because they were moving so fast. Their fight was all instinct, they were moving too fast to think, and neither could determine which had the upper hand, that is until The Hound pushed himself to his feet somehow and shoved his sword through Jaxon's back. Jaxon felt the pain, his sword slipped from his fingers and Ser Barristan with tears in his eyes, finished him with a cut across his throat. Blackness. Then suddenly, light, and they were all there, his brothers, his uncles, and his father.

"Welcome brother," said Jon Greystark, "it's good to see you."

Tears came to his eyes, "Jon, I'm so sorry."

"Enough of that brother, I was unfair to you, and I wish we had reconciled in life, but we have an eternity now together. Welcome to heaven brother, you deserve to be here, more than others. Now let us go to the feast where the food lasts forever, and the ale never runs out."

Jaxon smiled and followed his family, all the weight, everything he had carried his whole life, was slowly washing away, and he felt truly at peace, for the first time in many years.