Chapter Text
"Damn it, Ned, stand up."
Ned rose from the ground, still taken aback by the King's request.
"You helped me win the Iron Throne, now help me keep the damn thing." Ned chose not to respond, simply giving Robert a look that conveyed his uncertainty, yet not wanting to voice his thoughts at the risk of offending his friend. "We were meant to rule together. If your sister had lived, we'd've been bound by blood. But it's not too late—I have a son, you have a daughter."
At this, Ned's mouth fell open. In the back of his mind, he'd known that he would have to marry his children off someday, but he hadn't thought that day was today. Sansa seemed too young for the idea of marriage, no matter what she seemed to think. The girl hadn't even bled yet, as far as he knew.
Robert, dissatisfied with Ned's lack of response, frowned. "We'll join our houses." He strode past Ned further into the crypt, leaving the Stark no choice but to follow him.
"You know I would want nothing more than for us to be bound by blood. However-"
"I'll hear no more of it. Unless, of course, you and Cat object so strongly I have no choice but to relent and let yourselves find the girl a match, but who could be a better match than my son, the Prince?"
"I have no objection to it, Robert. I've not put much thought into her marriage yet, that's all. I never imagined I'd send her so far South, but that was me thinking foolishly."
Robert grunted. "I don't blame you, Ned. If I'd gotten to stay away from King's Landing as long as you, I wouldn't want a reason to return either!" He gave a great wheeze that descended into laughter. Ned gave an amused smile.
"That being said, I know you don't trust many in King's Landing, least of all the Lannisters. As your King, I'll not stand for the contempt between you both."
Ned furrowed his eyebrows. "I applogize for any offense I may have caused the Queen's family upon their arrival."
"Gods, Ned, you couldn't've been more of a gracious host than if you'd lain down for the Queen to walk on! I'm referring to you and Tywin. Probably Jaime as well, that arrogant prick."
"What happened during the rebellion is behind us. Whatever I said then came from a grieving boy, not the man I am now."
"A man like Tywin doesn't easily forget another man viewing his actions as dishonorable, Ned. Not to mention calling his son dishonorable."
"The man destroyed an entire House, man, woman, and child twice. You can't tell me killing children passes as honorable." Ned took a deep breath in an attempt to regain his composure. "And I'm far from the only man to think Jaime earned his nickname."
"But you were a man from a noble house, Ned. And you know how Lannisters value their reputations, almost as much as they value their grudges." Robert gave an exasperated sigh. "Dammit, Ned. I don't want to be caught in the middle of a Stark and Lannister war, if it comes to that."
"Then Sansa marrying Joffrey-"
"My boy is a Baratheon, Ned, not a Lannister. And however much of a pain in my ass Tywin Lannister may be, his daughter has borne my children, and I am bound to him by blood. All I need is for a Stark to marry a Lannister and our families will be the strongest allies in all of Westeros."
The two men were nearing Lyanna's statue, resulting in Robert becoming solemn.
"I won't be forced to choose to support my best man or my wife's father. I want your boy to marry Tywin's girl to put an end to this before it begins, regardless of what that gold shitter thinks."
Ned didn't respond, but gave a curt nod when Robert looked back at him.
"Good. I'll send Tywin a raven tonight. Gods know he's wanted to have her betrothed for some time now, and I'm sure he'd prefer your son to some Frey cock." He chuckled to himself. "Honestly, this may be the most strategic I've been as King."
"I'm not sure who I'm to feel more sorry for—you or your subjects."
Robert gave a laugh at that, but it died off once they arrived at Lyanna's statue. While he was paying his respects, Ned ruminated on how he was to break the news to his wife and son.