Arthur watched the men approach on their horses. He and his brothers had been keeping watch from the tower for days since they had received word of the Stark travelling south. Behind him, the dowager queen was giving birth to his King. His other brothers in white stood still, watching the approaching party kick up dust from their steeds. Their formerly white cloaks were now mottled by dust and sand, making them an off white color like the sand of a beach. Arthur wore no gloves, his hands on the hilt of his milksteel blade, Dawn. His ancestral blade almost hummed in his grip with his growing anticipation.

"Should they attempt to do us harm, we must fight and die to keep them from harming our King." The Lord Commander proffered, leaning on his blade slightly. The party of men on their steeds, once appearing to be twenty strong with the dust they kicked up, now revealed to be only seven. At their head was a man of perhaps nineteen, maybe twenty, riding on a pitch black destrier. He was garbed in a leather surcoat, and as their group grew closer he could see the wolf upon his breast.

Eddard Stark, brother to the Lady Lyanna, reined in his warhorse, looking down upon Arthur. "The last three Kingsguard in Westeros. I had thought you would fight on the Trident." Ned said to them, hopping down from his horse with some effort. "We were not there," Gerold said.

"Else the Usurper's blood would stain our blades," Finished Ser Oswell. Lord Commander Gerold gave a grunt of agreement. Lord Eddard looked between the three. "My lords, would you not bend the knee? Ser Oswell, I have married your niece, Lady Catelyn. Lord Hightower, even the Tyrells and your brother Ser Barristan have found clemency. Ser Arthur, I know you were good friends with Prince Rhaegar, but he is dead now. What remains of the Targaryen family has fled to Dragonstone. So I ask you, my lords - why not bend the knee?"

Arthur's lips upturned slightly. "Our knees do not bend so easily." Lord Eddard looked back at his companions with an expression somewhere between suffering and humor.

"My lords, do you intend to die for a dynasty that has been overthrown? A dynasty whose last scion was a rapist? One whose final king burnt Lords and smallfolk alike for not humoring his mad whims?" Eddard asked, looking back to the Kingsguard.

Arthur scowled slightly. "Rhaegar was no rapist or kidnapper. He was twice the man the Usurper is. Then your foul stag killed him." Ned scowled at the insult towards his friend, but made no move to fight. In fact, it was the man with the ten dogs on his shield - Cassel, mayhaps? - who moved to fight. He drew his sword. "You watched as the Mad King burned Brandon and Rickard!" He moved forward, swinging his sword. Arthur barely moved his body, simply bring up his sword and deflecting the blow easily, using the pommel of his sword to disarm the man and then put the tip to his neck in a few short moments.

The blade nicked the man's neck, drawing a small amount of blood. "I swore my oaths to protect the King above all. And so I continue to do." Ned paused, his blade half drawn just like his companions. "Lya," he said, breathlessly, "She's having a babe?" Arthur nodded his head solemnly. Suddenly Ned became much more forceful in his stance. "Let me through, I must see my sister. Please." Arthur looked over the Stark's companions, the shortest among them bearing a crocodile clasp for his cloak - a crannogman, by the looks of it. One of them looked like he had a fiery temper, too. "You - and you alone - may come up. My brothers will keep watch here."

Ned nodded his head fervently, beckoning to his companions to stay there. The one Arthur had nicked looked annoyed and slightly enraged, but respected his lords wishes. Escorting the Stark up the stairs, Arthur kept a hand on Dawn, just in case. They entered the Lady Lyanna's chambers, where she lay, passed out in a pool of blood. Arthur rushed over, looking over the Lady. A babe's cries could be heard nearby, where Wylla stood with a babe swaddled in a blanket. The boy had the Stark look about him, though his eyes had speckles of violet. Ned had rushed over to his sister, taking her hand.

With a start, she woke, looking weak. "Ned. Ned, you're here, I thought… I thought you wouldn't come. My boy… where is my babe?" She looked around fearfully, until Wylla rushed over. "He's here, my lady." She looked at the baby boy with a smile, though she looked to be in pain. "Jaehaerys… that was the name Rhaegar wanted for him. Please, Ned, promise me, protect him from Robert, don't let him die for my mistakes. Arthur… please, defend my babe." Arthur nodded solemnly, looking at the boy, and Ned nodded in affirmation. Lyanna started to sob.

"It's all my fault, I got Father and Brandon killed…" She trailed off, tears streaming down her face. Ned shook his head. "Lya, it's alright, I forgive you." Lyanna looked up at Ned and smiled wanly. "Thank you, Ned." She closed her eyes, taking one last shuddering gasp before she slipped away to face the Father's Judgement. Ned kneeled next to her dead body, her hand in his, weeping. "Oh Lya… I'm sorry, If I'd gotten here faster maybe you'd yet live." Arthur walked over to the young lord, placing his sword against the bed near where the babe lay.

Placing a hand on Ned's shoulder, he looked down upon the queen. She looked peaceful in death, her eyes closed. "Stark. You made your promise. What is to be done with the King?" Ned looked up at him. "I… well, we would need to visit your sister, but I was thinking of claiming him as Brandon's bastard by Ashara." He chewed his lip thoughtfully. "Your thoughts?"

"Starfall is not far, I can ask my sister for help bringing Lady Lyanna home as well." Arthur looked at his brothers below. "What is to be done with them? And what story shall we spin for myself?" Ned looked up. "I think you should remain as Jaehaerys new protector. You I can explain, but the other two…" A troubled look came over him. "I can't call him Jaehaerys either… Jon. That should help keep weary eyes off him."

Ser Arthur nodded. "I shall do what is necessary to support young Jae - Jon's ascent to adulthood, Lord Eddard."