Chapter Text
The gates of King’s Landing groaned open in front of them as they marched towards the city.
Rex heard it before he saw it, the roar of hundreds of people cheering or shouting, the source being clear when they marched through the town, Mark, Ned, Ethan, Howland, William, and Dustin marching side by side, Ashara trailing behind them slowly with the babes Edric and Jon in her arms.
Arthur Dayne, Oswell Whent and Gerold marched in front of them in chains. Arthur’s head was held high, eyes cold as they marched through the city. Oswell When followed with a clenched jaw as he glared at the Lannister, Stark, Baratheon, Arryn and Tully soldiers around the city, while Gerold stayed straight ahead with an uncaring look.
The smallfolk surged against the line of Baratheon guards, shouting over one another.
“Mad King dogs!”
“Traitors!”
“Cowards!”
Others stared in silence, unease crawling under their skin as their gazes slid from the chained knights to Ned and his group warily.
Rex’s helmet tracked people constantly, assessing threats on instinct alone. The crowd wasn’t hostile yet, but it was hostile, and one misstep could spark a riot.
A voice boomed over the square, carrying through the entire square and catching all their attention, Ned seeing a Septon standing in immaculate robes, the pendant of the Seven catching the light as he lifted his arms to the sky “And who else but the Gods could have granted these Jedi their powers?!” the Septon thundered to the crowd who roared their approval.
“They claim it is a natural thing, but only the Gods are capable of granting men and women powers that could have dissipated the storm outside of Dragonstone! The Seven who are one are the ones who granted them the ability to move stone and steel with nothing but their minds, the ability to clear storms with a wave of their hands!” The Septon roared through the cheers of the crowd as Rex swore under his breath.
“Their powers come not from demons, but our Gods! They surely guided the Star People here as a reward for casting down the Targaryens! And the people they claim are capable of being like them are clearly blessed by the Gods for their faith!”
Rex grimaced under his helmet, this wasn’t going to end well “And as the Gods have surely brought the Star People to us, they surely guided them so they would learn the Force is a gift from the Seven themselves!”
The crowd was in an uproar now, cheering, weeping, kneeling and chanting as the Septon’s arms swept through the city “SO EMBRACE OUR GODS’S BLESSED, FOR THEY ARE TRULY OUR GODS’ CHAMPIONS!” he roared through the crowd.
Ned said nothing, grimacing as he and Ashara made eye contact as she held the babes closer, and when Arthur stumbled, he caught the man who glanced back at him in surprise before turning around and continuing up the stairs.
As they moved up the keep, the cheers followed them, Rex filling his gut twist with dread as they entered.
Arthur, Oswell, and Gerold were handed over to Stark guards without ceremony. The three men marched away to be with the other prisoners to be judged, none of them fighting the process. Arthur met Ned’s eyes once more as he was led down a side corridor, expression unreadable, pride intact despite the captivity.
Then they were gone, and Ned did not look back as they made their way to the Throne Room, Kota standing by the Throne as he talked to Robert “I’m telling you, you lot kept your word, every last silver-haired dragon accounted for, the rest of their supporters folded like wet parchment once they saw your ship come through the clouds.”
“It was no big deal, your grace!” Kota nodded his head humbly.
Robert barked another laugh, “No big deal! Gods, man, you cleared a storm the size of a bloody mountain off Dragonstone with a wave of your hand! If your hand’t, the Targaryens might be halfway to Essos by now!”
He leaned forward, grinning, “And you Jedi have been holding out on me, never once did you mention that you lot carried swords made of fire, you’re telling me if Renly joins your group, he would wield one of them one day?”
Kota smiled, “We don’t tend to use them often; most people are reluctant to fight a Jedi.”
Robert looked up, his grin splitting wider as he spotted the familiar figures entering the hall, surging to his feet with a roar of delight, boots clanging against the steps as he strode down the Throne’s steps two at a time “NED!”
Before Ned could reply, Robert slammed into him, wrapping his arms around him in a crushing embrace, the force of it nearly driving the breath from his lungs.
Ned’s arms came up, returning the embrace, “Robert.”
Robert pulled back, still grinning as he looked around “So, where is she? Where’s Lyanna, eh? Gods, I can’t wait to-”
He cut himself off, gaze flicking past Ned to see that Ethan wasn’t able to meet his eyes, the way Howland’s face was carved from grief, the way Rex stood very still, helmet tucked under his arms, and how the rest couldn’t meet his eyes.
Robert frowned, but then his attention was drawn to Ashara “Ashara?” he asked, surprised as he looked between her and Ned.
Ashara nodded at the man, smiling warily as she adjusted the babes in her arms, one sleeping and the other looking around, blinking up at them as his fist clenched and unclenched around her dress “Your Grace,” she said, inclining her head.
Robert blinked, then laughed lightly “Seven Hells, I thought you’d fled to Dorne or thrown yourself into the sea as the singers claim, and what’s all this then?” he asked, eyes dropping to the babes.
Ned stepped forward before Ashara could speak, “They’re mine.”
Robert stared at him for a second, then his face broke into a grin so wide it bordered on obscene “Your bastards? Gods, Ned, you’ve been holding out on me also!”
Ashara’s grip tightened around the babes, her eyes never leaving Robert’s face “Well done, two of them! I should have known there was more wolf in you than you let on.” Robert laughed.
He looked back up at Ned, still grinning, “So, where’s Lyanna?”
Silence fell over the Throne Room, and everyone was able to feel the tension and grief as Robert’s grin faded once more “Ned, where is she?” he asked, quieter now.
Ned swallowed, tears stinging his eyes “She’s gone,” he said, throat burning.
Robert stared at him for a few seconds “No, no, that’s not funny, Ned, where is she?”
Ned did not answer, the truth hitting Robert as his smile fell “Gone?” he whispered.
For a moment, Robert did not move, then a sound tore out of him.
It was not a shout, or a cry, but a raw, animal howl that echoed off the stone walls of the room, a sound that was more like a sound ripped from the chest of a wounded animal, Robert staggering back a step and slamming a fist against the table, goblets hitting the ground as the table cracked under his fist “NO, NO SHE CAN’T BE GONE!” he roared, flipping the table in roar of grief and anger.
Ashara flinched despite herself, instinct screaming as she stepped back, turning her body slightly to shield the babes as Jon began to cry, the sounds cutting through the room.
“Those silver-haired bastards! I should have killed them all, every last dragonspawn! This is their doing, hers, his, all of them!”
“Robert!” Ned said, voice tight as Robert turned to them, “What happened? Tell me what that bastard did to her.”
Ned drew a slow breath “She was at the Tower of Joy, Arthur Dayne was there, as was Oswell Whent and Gerold Hightower; they were keeping watch over her.”
Robert’s fist clenched, but he said nothing “They did not harm her; they were guarding her, but when we arrived, they meant to fight us.”
“How did you get past them?” Robert demanded.
Ned hesitated only for a second “They were captured thanks to Rex here.”
Robert’s gaze snapped sideways to Rex, lingering on his with an unreadable expression, hands at his side, staring at the man for nearly a minute before turning back to Ned “Lyanna was already weak when I reached her; she was fevered and sick. There was nothing I could do.”
Robert’s breath grew ragged “No, no, she’s strong, she always was.”
“She died minutes after I found her,” Ned said as Robert staggered back once more at the words, shoulders shaking once, twice, then he bowed his head, teeth clenching so hard his jaw creaked.
For a moment, no one spoke, and when Robert finally looked up, his eyes were red-rimmed and burning “I will see the dragons ended, all of them. No more secrets and no more dead girls.”
The dark-haired baby wailed in Ashara’s arms as she held him tighter, watching as Ned wrapped his arms around the man.
-
ONE DAY LATER
The Iron Throne loomed above them as Robert stared at the crowded room, grief still shown in his face as he took in the people around the room, Rebels and loyalists alike going silent as Robert stood to his feet “Let it be known that the war is over.”
A roar answered him as Robert continued, “Storm’s End remains in the hands of my House, my brother Stannis will hold it, as is his right.”
Stannis inclined his head stiffly, jaw tight and face carved into stone.
“Jon Arryn was a father to me when my own father was gone. A better father figure I could not have asked for, and he shall serve as Hand of the King.”
Jon knelt as the hall erupted once more.
“And to bind this realm together, I will wed Cersei of House Lannister,” Robert said, voice shifting, heavier now.
A ripple of approval and wariness swept through the room, Tywin standing unmoving, green eyes sharp as he nodded.
Robert went on, naming rewards and confirmations, lands restored, titles upheld, honours granted. Each declaration was met with roars of approval.
“And there are those not of this world who have kept their word,” he said, voice carrying something most could not identify as murmurs swept through the crowd “The Star People have stood by their oaths; they helped end this war when steel and blood were no longer enough.”
People stood straighter, being the first time some had ever seen the Jedi and Rex, staring in awe or warily at them.
“For that, I grant them what they have asked. They will be given land within King’s Landing, a stronghold for their forces in their war in the stars, and a member of theirs will sit on the Council to bridge us together, and a temple to the Jedi Order will be built in this city.” Robert announced, the room exploding in noise of confusion, fear, awe and approval as Robert lifted a hand as the room calmed, “They will take in anyone who can wield this… Force and train them as they see fit, lowborn and highborn alike.”
A beat of silence filled the room as Robert smiled, “My brother Renly will be among the first among our people to join their Order.”
Cheers erupted, louder than before, somewhere in the crowded room. Renly could be heard whooping, pumping a fist into the air as Robert laughed despite himself, then the laughter faded as the door leading to the Throne Room opened.
Chains rattled as Queen Rhaella Targaryen was led forward, pale but composed, silver hair loose over her shoulders. In her arms was a newborn girl sleeping in a red and black cloth. At her side was Viserys, thin, proud, terrified, but chin lifted as he followed after his mother.
The hall went silent as Robert leaned forward on the Throne, elbows on his knees, staring down at her “I have been advised on the fate of you and your children.”
Rhaella did not flinch “Some say you should all be put to the sword so there is none left alive to threaten my reign.” Robert continued, voice hardening. The Jedi, Ned, Jon Arryn and many tensed as Viserys gulped and gripped his mother’s skirt “And others ask for mercy, to exile you to Essos or Dragonstone.”
His eyes burned as he stared at Rhaella “I have half a mind to see you all executed for what Rhaegar did.”
Rhaella’s grip around her children tightened as Robert exhaled sharply “But the Star People offered another path.”
Rhaella looked up.
“If you agree, they will take you and your off this world forever, you will never return to press your claim, never raise an army against me.”
The hall held its breath as Rhaella was silent for a moment before she turned, voice carrying through the hall, “Houses of Westeros, are you still loyal to me?”
For a heartbeat, the room was quiet, then cries rang out, voices roaring their allegiance, house after house as Robert’s face darkened, red creeping up his neck as hands went to sword hilts, the Jedi shifted, Rex reaching for his blasters before Rhaella spoke again, “If you are loyal, then hear me out one more time.”
Silence fell as swiftly as it had been broken “Bend the knee to Robert of House Baratheon, First of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, swear to never take up arms against him and his family as long as your house still stands.”
Shock rippled through the halls at her words, “I relinquish my claim for myself and my children; House Targaryen will never threaten House Baratheon’s rule.”
Viserys stared up at her, eyes wide, before he swallowed and nodded, repeating the words as his mother rubbed his back.
Ned felt the tension drain from him as Jon Arryn exhaled slowly, Kota nodding as Tywin stood perfectly still, expression hovering between stone cold and murder.
Robert stared at Rhaella for a minute before he nodded, “Very well, you and yours are banished from this world forever.”
Some loyalists fell to their knees in support of Robert; others stepped forward, declaring their intent to follow Rhaella into exile, Arthur Dayne, Oswell Whent, Gerold Hightower, Alister Thorne, Willem Darry, and others among them.
Barristan Selmy and Jaime Lannister were the only two Kingsguard left.
As the hall calmed down, Kota allowed himself to let go of a breath he hadn’t known he had been holding.