The Shadow of Winterfell Chapter 5

Eddard Stark

There were in the innermost part of the keep, safe within the depths of Winterfell. A hundred of his finest men-at-arms stood outside those doors, with another hundred of Robert’s own to compliment them.

The room they were in used to be an old storage room, but had been converted to suite their needs with a table and some chairs. It wasn’t a place fit for the King to meet with the Lord of the North, but dire circumstances required caution and discretion.

Robert sat at the head of the makeshift table, seething in his own fury, with Ser Barristan standing to his side wearing a tight expression. Ned’s own grim face was not much different than that of the aging knight. Robb sat to his side, looking lost yet vengeful, with Harry joining them as well.

At last, Tyrion Lannister joined them, not acting like his usual drunken self as the Dwarf entered the most secure room in the castle and sat without much fanfare. Not that Ned could blame Tyrion, as all of them were on edge, and the Imp might as well believe he was being put on trial.

“My King, ser Barristan, Lord Stark, may I ask why you have called me here?” Tyrion asked tentatively.

“Treachery, Lannister.” Robert growled. “We know you have a good mind, and hoped that you shed some light on what is going on.”

In truth, both Robb and Harry had recommended Tyrion join them when they met with the King, and Ned had taken their advice. Not only could the Imp serve as a representative for House Lannister in the meeting, but could also give his perspective on the events of the past few days.

With that said, Ned still did not know what to think of the Imp. Tyrion Lannister was a notorious whoremonger and drinker from what he could learn, yet was also said to have a sharp mind. That didn’t mean Ned trusted him, as no southerner could be trusted these days, but he could at least listen to what the man had to say.

“Ah.” Tyrion seemed stumped. “Well, obviously I never orchestrated any of this madness. But clearly someone in the Royal party has something to do with it. Unless Winterfell is always this chaotic?”

“Of course not.” Ned denied the obvious. “For the record, we do not believe you had anything to do with this. My men have already done an investigation into the mess involving my sister’s tomb, and we are currently searching for the one who orchestrated it.”

He glanced at his bastard nephew, knowing that Harry was the one who did such an investigation. Ned remembered earlier in his solar when Harry revealed his findings to himself and Robb.

Flashback

He entered his solar, finding Robb and Harry already waiting for him. They went to stand, and he stopped them with a hand. Ned Stark was too tired for formalities after dealing with the devastating news about his son’s fall, and having to comfort Cat had further exhausted him.

Ned sighed deeply as he sat down across from the two, taking in their own weary expressions.

“What new of Bran?” Robb spoke first.

“He rests.” Ned answered grimly. “The boy does not wake. Even if he does wake up, I doubt he will walk again.”

Robb cursed quietly, and Harry took a deep breath before clenching his eyes shut.

“I believe you both know why we are here.” Ned continued. “My sister’s tomb vandalized, several men dead, rampant talk of southern deceit and betrayal, and now my son falls while climbing. Please tell me you have found something.”

Robb’s fist clenched against his armrest at the reminder of why they were summoned, while Harry merely nodded. “As a matter of fact, I have found something. I’ve uncovered a massive scheme plotting against House Stark, as well as an effort to undermine House Lannister.”

Robb looked at his cousin sharply, and even Ned sat up straighter. “Speak.”

“The men that broke into the crypts and vandalized Aunt Lyanna’s tomb were paid handsomely to do so. I got a lead on them, and it led me to the edge of winter town where I found another sellsword who was part of their scheme. It’s there that this whole ordeal becomes more complicated.”

“How so?”

“The sellsword in question was paid to get a letter to you, uncle.”

“A letter?” Robb asked with a frown. “Why would the men who attacked us give Father a letter? Are they trying to taunt our misfortune?”

“That’s where this becomes complicated.” Harry pulled out the letter in question and sat it on his desk, and Ned took it. “It is my belief that this whole situation is an attempt to pin us against House Lannister. Already, the men-at-arms talk and smallfolk whisper of Lannister deceit, so it’s obviously working.”

Ned read the letter, then read it again and again. It read of Lannister treachery and betrayal in the capital, desperately trying to pin the blame for Jon Arryn’s demise on the Lannisters. With his Nephew’s added context, it made sense that this all was one big ploy to pin them against House Lannister. The strangest part was that the letter was addressed to Cat of all people.

“I’ll admit that the only lead I had was that the Queen might be involved.” Robb grimaced, looking embarrassed. “Still, why try to pin us against the Lannisters in the first place?”

“Who knows?” His nephew shrugged. “Other than the usual twisted Southern politics, it could be an effort to end the talk of a betrothal between Prince Joffrey and Sansa.”

Robb’s fist clenched once again at that, and Ned felt himself frown. His eldest son clearly wasn’t angry this time about the deceit, but more about the topic of his sister being betrothed to the Prince. Maybe I should look into the matter?

“There is one thing I forgot to mention.” Harry suddenly said, straightening up. “The sellsword I mentioned before, he said that he worked for a man called the Mockingbird. Have you heard of him, uncle?”

“No.” Ned frowned.

End Flashback

“So far the one responsible for this mess goes by the name of the Mockingbird.” Ned continued, after revealing their findings to the others present.

Ser Barristan had a severe frown on his features, while Robert still looked quite infuriated. Tyrion Lannister meanwhile looked deeply intrigued by his findings.

“May I ask if any of you know of this Mockingbird?” Ned asked.

Disappointingly, no one seemed to know the man, and Robert growled irritably. “When I get my hands on this bastard…”

“On behalf of the Kingsguard, I can have my men begin looking for such a person, your Grace.” Ser Barristan offered.

“There is one man on the small council with a familiar name.” Tyrion Lannister seemed to be searching his thoughts, and they watched him in anticipation. “I forget his actual name, but I believe he is in charge of spying.”

“Lord Varys also goes by the Spider, Lord Tyrion.” Ser Barristan corrected him.

“Ah, nevermind then.” Tyrion shrugged. “Either way, it is likely this individual is part of the court. Meaning he is either here in Winterfell, or back in King’s Landing.”

“Aye.” Ned agreed with the unsettling thought. Clearly the man in question was associated with the royal court in some fashion, meaning he was present in Winterfell, or simply had many allies amongst the court.

“Are you sure, Ned?” Robert frowned deeply. “Perhaps this is one of those Targaryen bastards. Maybe even the Dornish are behind all this?”

“Dorne is more known for poisons and subtlety, your Grace. I doubt they would vandalize a poor woman’s tomb.” Tyrion said.

Robert still seemed to have his old hatred of the Targaryens and the Dornish, something Ned carefully took note of. The King only looked moments away from going into a fit of rage about the subject.

“What of your son, Ned?” Robert suddenly questioned.

“Bran still sleeps after his fall, and it is likely he won’t walk again after he wakes.” He replied.

“Do you think his fall is related to all this?” Barristan Selmy asked.

The implication was clear, and he could see Robert watching him closely. The possibility of one of the old Targaryen loyalists being blamed for this whole mess was just one breath away, and Ned knew he had to speak carefully else scandal or even war might start up again.

“No.” Ned said forcefully. “My son has been told not to climb many times, and I even ordered the guards to stop him should they catch him. It is likely this is just a terrible coincidence, an accident that occurred at the worst of times.”

“Indeed.” Tyrion nodded grimly at his words. “Unfortunate to say the least.”

His opinion of Lord Tyrion had been rising throughout the meeting, and Ned decided that the Imp would make a good ally in the capital. That said, the fact that all of this was occurring in the first place was a wake-up call to the dangers involved in Southern politics.

He had heard of the dangers of King’s Landing, and especially the Red Keep, but didn’t think it would be this bad. Those tales of Lords taking a wrong turn and being knifed, or even of falling down steps and breaking their neck in the Red Keep seemed more real than he imagined. He would admit that it frightended him, and Ned prepared himself for the next issue he wished to address.

It simply did not feel right to send Sansa so far South with so many enemies out for their blood. This talk of the Mockingbird, along with hostilities between Dorne and leftover Targaryen loyalists put him on edge. That, and Robb’s own concerns about Joffrey had him worried. Ned had seen the way his eldest reacted to the Crown Prince, and he opted to act on the side of caution than to send Sansa into danger.

“There is a matter I wish to discuss.” Ned suddenly said before the meeting could come to an end. “I want to cancel the betrothal between my daughter and the Prince.”

The whole room seemed to go silent, and nearly every occupant was looking at him in shock. That included Robb and Harry, as neither of which he had confided this matter in earlier.

Robert spoke first. “What?! Why Ned?”

“I do not believe my daughter is ready for the responsibilities that come with being queen.” He answered, knowing it was safer to not openly air his concerns about Joffrey. “Instead, I would like to propose a betrothal between my eldest son, and the Princess.”

Robb suddenly looked like a doe caught in the sights of a bear, and Ned felt quite bad about not bringing this matter up earlier. The room’s attention went to Robb, who stood stiff in shock, and then back to himself.

I really should have discussed this matter earlier. He mentally berated himself for making the decision so suddenly, but his deeper instincts had encouraged him. Hopefully Cat isn’t too upset.

“Alright, Ned.” Robert sighed. “Honestly, I don’t think there will be a better match for my daughter than your son. But this leaves the matter of my own son’s future wife in question. Are you sure you don’t want your daughter to be queen?”

Ned thought of his own marriage, done in the name of necessity and not love. A Lord would be lucky to marry for love and not for convenience, and the same could be said for royalty. Robert had married Cersei to appease Tywin, and it was clear there was no love to be found between the two.

“Robert, I am soon to be your Hand, and I can only ask that you take the matter of Prince Joffrey’s wife seriously. My own House is bound to House Tully, and House Lannister is interlinked to your own. Perhaps consider a betrothal for your son further south? One of the Greater Houses unaligned and closer to your lands?”

The talk of traitors in the South furthered his arguement, as it would be better for the King to have allies further South than all the way in the North. And as Robert’s Hand, it would be Ned’s job to cement the position of House Baratheon as King. Even if it meant appeasing and negotiating with former Targaryen loyalists.

It took a moment for Robert to figure out what he was talking about, and the King’s teeth clenched upon realization. “You would have my son wed the Tyrells? Or worse, one of the Martells? Have you gone mad?”

Surprisingly, it was Tyrion Lannister who spoke first. “It’s actually not a bad idea.”

Robert turned to him. “What?”

“Think about it, your Grace.” The Imp said. “Right now, Dorne and the Reach are no friends of the crown. But if a Lady of House Tyrell is wed to Prince Joffrey, then their loyalty is ensured for generations.”

“Still…” Robert scratched his beard in thought, clearly uncomfortable while not having a counterarguement. Not doubt Ned’s old friend was still weary of those he fought in the rebellion.

Ned held up his hand. “It is a matter worth considering for the future, at the very least. For now, I believe we can call this meeting over.”

/////

Hadrian Snow

He slipped through the different hallways and secret passageways as he navigated his way through Winterfell, carefully avoiding guards and going unnoticed as he entered the temporary residence of their guests from the south. The woman he was looking for was staying in a room close to the queen’s own quarters, and he soon found her room and entered.

Jocelyn Swyft looked up from her spot on the bed as he entered, and a smile lit up her face. “My Lord!”

The woman quickly stood and bowed low, as Harry studied her. She was noblewoman from a large House in the Westerlands, one allied closely with House Lannister. That didn’t mean she was all that important, not being part of the main line and having many sisters and cousins who ranked higher in their standing.

That said, she was still a beautiful woman. Tall with bright red hair, a thin frame that most noblewomen desired, with breasts no bigger than a handful. As a bastard, Harry or even Jon would be extremely lucky if they ever laid with such a woman. But to Harry, Jocelyn Swyft wasn’t all that special.

“Do you require my services, my Lord?” She asked him.

“In fact, I do.”

With a smooth movement of his hand, his trousers fell, and the mighty shaft he kept hidden between his legs came forth. The noblewoman’s eyes went wide, and Harry was on her in an instant as he divested her of her clothes.

Just because Jocelyn Swyft wasn’t as pretty as Val or Cersei Lannister, didn’t mean Harry would ignore her as she lusted after him. The girl was rather obvious in her infatuation with him ever since he saved her life, and it came time for him to take her before she escaped his grasp. Who refers to a bastard as their Lord anyways?

Maybe in his past life as Harry Potter he would have ignored her, viewing her as just another admirer or fangirl. But this world’s Harry was different than the one in his previous life, as he simply couldn’t let a useful noblewoman like her slip away. This was a world where the strong dominated the weak after all, and Harry was no exception.

He listened to her howl and moan as his cockhead split her cunt lips open, satiating the noise and the pleasure of taking her. She was wet and ready for him, and he groaned as he shoved more and more of his cock into her.

“So big, my Lord!” She exclaimed between moans. “Your cock feels so big!”

A particular harsh thrust made he moan that much louder, and he grasped her hips harshly. “Do you like that, Jocelyn? Do you want me to keep fucking you?”

“YES! Please keep fucking me!” She screamed out. “Please. I’ll even stay in Winterfell if you keep fucking me!”

His cock jerked in arousal at her words, knowing he had taken he so successfully. The noblewoman was already so devoted to him that she would practically give up everything to be his whore.

He smirked at his success, knowing the girl would be a useful tool in the future. “There’s no need for that, my dear. It turns out I’ll be going to the capital with you.”

/////

Cersei Lannister

She had to wonder how everything had gone so wrong.

It began the first night of their arrival, with the Stark wench’s tomb being vandalized. Cersei had paid little mind to the event, having nothing to do with it. If anything, she felt a certain cruel gratification to hear of Robert’s dead lover being disgraced.

Lyanna Stark was the bane of her existence. The woman who Rhaegar stole away, and the girl who Robert mourned and was supposed to marry. Cersei would never forget how Robert said her name on their wedding night, and especially how her husband picked his whores based on which one looked the most like that northern wench.

And now Lyanna Stark was ruining her life once again. Everyone was blaming Cersei for vandalizing the wench’s tomb, as rumors spread of the Queen’s supposed jealousy of the dead girl who stole Robert’s heart. Infuriating!

The fact that all of this was taking place in Winterfell and not King’s Landing made it that much more difficult, with too many Stark loyalists and smallfolk willing to spread baseless rumors and lies about her. All of the rabble were only too happy to badmouth the evil Lannister Queen, especially when it involved propping up the innocent Lyanna Stark.

She needed to retake control of the situation, and it needed to happen sooner than later. If she was back in King’s Landing, her spies and allies in the capital could have helped. But she was in the desolate North, surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Where is Senelle? Cersei wondered, having not seen her handmaiden in some time. The woman was skilled when it came to things like this, and yet she was nowhere to be seen. The same could be said for her other handmaiden, Jocelyn Swyft.

She made he way through the royal section of the aging castle to check the girl’s quarters, and didn’t bother knocking as she made her way inside. The girl’s room was nothing special with only a bed, nightstand, and window.

But it wasn’t any of those things that got the Queen’s attention, as Cersei’s green eyes immediately went to the two forms fornicating upon the bed. One of them was a muscular Northman, the kind most noblewoman could only dream of, and the other one was her handmaiden on all fours.

Cersei licked her lips at the sight, eyes his muscular frame from the side. He was built ruggedly in a way Jaime never achieved, having thick bulging muscles and the scars to prove his meddle. Cersei had been looking for a northern brute, and it seemed that Jocelyn had found exactly what she was searching for.

He hammered into the redhead, each impact of his hips against her ass creating a loud deafening smack. She eyed the way his massive shaft slammed into her over and over, along with how his large sack dangled beneath his legs.

“H-Harry I-I…” The redhead girl wasn’t going to last much longer. “P-Please, too much!”

The brute didn’t slow down, and if anything he seemed to speed up his brutal thrusts. Her handmaiden only moaned and screamed louder, succumbing to the man’s power as he destroyed her with his mammoth-sized cock.

“C-Cum… I’m C-Cumming!” Jocelyn squeaked, almost as if she had lost her mind from orgasmic pleasure, and suddenly her eyes rolled back in her head. The brute didn’t stop even after she passed out, fucking her through his own release before he let her body fall down to the bed.

Now was the perfect time to take advantage of the situation.

“I must say, you sure did quite the number on my handmaiden.” Cersei said in her most sultry tone.

His gaze snapped over to her, his suprise evident. Cersei had to wonder how the man was able to get into Jocelyn’s room, and if the girl was skilled enough to sneak him past the guards and into her room through her own means.

“Y-Your Grace.” The brute’s eyes went wide as he moved back, unknowingly revealing his entire shaft to her.

Before he could move to cover himself, or say anything more, she struck. Cersei moved in and grasped his hard cock, feeling its heat and thickness in her grasp. It was thicker than a bicep and long enough to easily cover her face, a manhood she assumed most men would be envious of.

“Look at this beast.” Cersei eyed his cock eagerly. “The things I would do such a cock…”

The Northman chuckled awkwardly, and she subtly smirked at seeing his easy change in demeanor. “My cock is yours, your Grace.”

“Indeed.” Cersei smiled, still holding his shaft as she moved closer to him. “Why don’t you and this… big thing, come down south to King’s Landing? I’d be sure to make it worth your while.”

His eyes went wide, and it was in that moment Cersei knew she had him. Men always thought with their cocks.

It was a lesson she learned long ago, and one of the methods she used to maintain power in the capital. She would string the Northman in front of her along and drag him to the capital with promises of sex, and from there use him like she used so many others. Maybe if he’s lucky, I’ll actually let him fuck me.

Over time he would become her servant and spy, a man secretly sworn to her that could carry out her bidding. He would act as her spy in the Stark Household, being close to the next Hand of the King, and when he wasn’t busy doing that, she would make use of his body.

She let go of his shaft suddenly, and walked away. The message she imparted to him was clear, being that the only way he would get his hands on her was to come South.

Cersei left the room feeling victorious, but sadly she didn’t notice the knowing smirk on the bastard’s face.