Game of thrones: The Lustful sellsword

A Realm in Uproar

The Red Keep was in turmoil.

Cersei Lannister paced in her chambers, her face a mask of barely contained fury. Ned Stark and his daughters had escaped. The ramifications were severe, and for the first time in years, the Queen Regent felt powerless.

"How?" she hissed, her emerald eyes narrowing at the trembling messenger before her. "How did they get out?"

"No one knows, Your Grace," the man stammered. "The guards on duty… they are dead. Some missing. Others refuse to speak. It was a clean operation."

Cersei threw her goblet across the room, the fine Dornish wine splattering against the marble floor.

"A clean operation? Do you understand what you're telling me? Someone planned this, executed this flawlessly, right under our noses!" Her voice rose dangerously. "Find out who! I want the heads of everyone involved!"

Joffrey sat on the edge of the room, his face contorted with rage.

"This is treason!" he shrieked. "I will have every last traitor flayed alive! I'll make them watch their families burn!"

Cersei turned to her son, her own anger boiling, but she kept it measured.

"Be silent, Joffrey," she said, her voice laced with barely concealed frustration. "The damage is already done. If we do not act carefully, this will spiral out of our control."

But the true wrath was yet to come.

The Lion's Fury

Far from King's Landing, Tywin Lannister sat in his war camp, listening to the news with cold, calculating fury.

He had spent his life building the power of House Lannister, ensuring its dominance over the realm. And now, because of Cersei's incompetence and Joffrey's stupidity, House Stark had slipped through their fingers.

"So," he said, voice low but deadly, "the North still has its head?"

Kevan Lannister nodded hesitantly. "It appears so. Lord Stark and his daughters are being escorted north. Their whereabouts are currently unknown, but Robb Stark has sent men to verify."

Tywin's expression remained unreadable, but his next words were laced with venom.

"Cersei has made a mistake. One that will cost us dearly."

Kevan swallowed hard. "What would you have us do?"

Tywin stared at the map before him, his fingers tapping lightly against the wooden table.

"We cannot afford weakness. The Riverlands will fall. The North will suffer. But first, we must handle this mess before it spirals out of our grasp."

Jaime remained their prisoner, but the terms of negotiation had changed. Ned Stark was no longer a bargaining chip. The balance of power had shifted.

And Tywin Lannister would never allow House Lannister to be seen as weak.

The War Council of the Young Wolf

In Riverrun, Robb Stark listened carefully as his scouts reported back.

"We've received confirmation, my lord. It is truly your father and sisters. They are being moved north as we speak."

Catelyn Stark let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Her Ned was alive. The gods had not abandoned them.

But Robb's face was still cautious.

"And yet, we must be wary. This could still be a trick."

Roose Bolton, ever the cautious one, folded his hands together. "If it is real, then our war effort has just changed. With Lord Stark alive, our cause becomes stronger. But we must ensure their safety before celebrating."

"Send a detachment of men to escort them," Robb ordered. "Make sure they make it to Winterfell safely. If this is truly my father, we march forward with renewed strength."

The Truth Sansa Never Spoke

The carriage rolled along the dirt path, moving steadily away from the dangers of the south. Inside, Eddard Stark sat with his daughters, his hands clasped together as he listened to Sansa speak.

"They killed them all," she whispered. "My friends, the servants, Septa Mordane. They took Jeyne Poole. I thought she was dead."

Her voice trembled, and for the first time in his life, Ned Stark saw the weight of trauma in his daughter's eyes.

"Joffrey… he made me watch. He said I would see what happens to traitors. And I had to smile through it all." She choked on her words. "I was alone, father. Completely alone."

Ned swallowed hard, guilt settling into his bones like lead. He had thought his greatest mistake was trusting the wrong men, but now he realized his greatest failure was leaving his daughters to suffer alone in the Red Keep.

Before he could say anything, I spoke.

"You weren't alone, my lady."

Sansa looked at me, her blue eyes filled with confusion.

"What do you mean?"

I leaned forward slightly, my voice calm. "Jeyne Poole isn't dead. She is safe. I made sure of it. I had her moved out of King's Landing days before we left. By now, she should be heading north."

Sansa's mouth parted slightly, as if unable to process what she had just heard. Tears welled in her eyes.

"You… you saved her?"

I nodded. "I did."

For the first time since we had left King's Landing, Sansa broke down completely.

She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around me. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you."

Ned watched the exchange, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. I had done what no one else had.

And that made him wonder—who exactly was I?

"How did you do all of this?" Ned finally asked, his voice measured, as if gauging every word.

I turned my gaze to him, offering a respectful nod.

"I keep my eyes open."

For a moment, silence filled the carriage. Then, Ned exhaled through his nose, his expression unreadable.

"I see."