Chapter Text
It had been six days since Jon had told his father the truth about the royal children, and still, the older man did nothing.
No matter how many times Jon asked, his answer was always the same.
“It’s more complicated than you think. Give me time.”
And Jon had. He had gone about his business like nothing had happened, but as they were nearing the one week mark, Jon was growing quickly tired of being patient.
So he had decided to go to the one person whom he knew would have some sort of an answer for him.
“Lord Varys.” Jon greeted the man as he walked into the solar.
“Young Snow.” Varys said. “What brings you by?”
“You already know why I am here.” Jon sighed. “Must we play this game every time?”
Lord Varys only raised his chin slightly.
“I would like an answer as to why my father is acting so strangely.” He said.
“Strangely how?” Varys asked.
“Almost a week ago, I told him the truth about the Queen’s children. He said he would handle it that day, and to be ready to leave with the girls. But he hasn’t done anything. Hasn’t told me anything. I don’t even think that Jory knows.” Jon exclaimed. “And every time I ask him, he just gives me a vague answer.”
“Must be frustrating.” Varys quipped and Jon shot the man a glare.
“Do you have an answer for me or not?”
“Not at this moment in time.”
“Because you don't know or because you aren't willing to tell me?”
“You are far too intelligent to not know the answer to that already.”
Jon sighed. “Just tell me this. How much danger is my family in here?”
Varys considered the boy for a moment. “A lot.”
“Would we be safer if we were to return to Winterfell.”
Varys paused. He needed Jon in the South for his plan to work. But he likely already knew the answer to his question. Varys also needed Jon to somewhat trust him.
“Undoubtedly.”
Jon breathed in and out very deeply.
“I… will try to convince my father to return home.”
Varys nodded. He understood that Jon would try. But he would not succeed.
“I wish you all the best.” Varys lied.
***
“Father.” Jon called out as he entered the now empty Small Council chamber.
He'd been waiting outside of the meeting whilst practising what he wanted to say to his father.
“Jon. I know what you're going to say.” Ned said with a sigh.
Jon quickly cut in before he could continue. “Father, I don't know why you don't wish to tell the King about his wife, and it isn't my concern anyway. We need to leave for Winterfell. All of us. This city is a death trap and I for one do not wish to be caught in it.”
“I agree.” Ned said wearily.
“Then why do you linger so?” Jon questioned, and his father just gazed upon him sadly.
He had been doing that a lot, and Jon could not figure out why.
The conversation was interrupted with a knock on the door.
“Enter.” Ned called out.
The door opened to Jory Cassel holding a sealed letter.
“Jory, what is it?” Ned asked.
“A serving girl asked that I give you this. From her master.”
Ned opened the letter and with each word read, his face dropped slightly more. Without further explanation, the man jumped up from his chair and marched from the room, the letter clutched tightly in his palm.
*****
Varys both heard and felt the door of his office slam open on account of Ned Stark barging into the room as though he were breaking a siege.
“Lord Stark. Whatever is the matter.” Varys asked, not looking up from his papers.
“What is this?” The Northman asked in a quiet fury.
Varys finally deigned to look at the man, seeing him clutch the letter he himself had sent.
“Well, what do you think?” The bald man asked.
“What is this?” The man repeated.
“An offer.” Varys told him. The letter was only a single sentence long.
It had simply read, [‘Lord Hand, I believe I am able to help you with your issues regarding Jamie Lannister.’]
Signed with a spider emblem, there was no mistaking who it was from.
“What do you know?” Ned asked after taking a seat.
“Everything. With Jon, the royal children, and the threat that Jamie Lannister had put over your head.”
“How?”
Varys scoffed and rolled his eyes. “My little birds see and hear everything. The walls of the Red Keep themselves are my servants.”
“Poetic.” Ned said dryly. “Your letter said that you could help. In what way?”
“Go home.” Varys said.
“What?” Ned didn't know what he was expecting from this meeting. But it wasn't that.
“Go back to Winterfell. Tell your family the truth and prepare the North for what is to come.”
“And what is to come, exactly?”
“War. It is no secret that when Robert dies, this realm will slip into chaos. The Lannisters are preparing their forces. We must prepare ours.” Varys reasoned.
“Stannis is the rightful King after Robert.” Ned insisted.
Varys scoffed hard. “Jon is the rightful King. And Stannis, while honourable, does not have a head for politics and the intricacies of them.”
“And Jon does? He is a boy!” Ned all but punched the table to emphasise his point.
“Jon is teachable. Stannis is not. With guidance and the right supporters, he will be an incredible King. No ruler was a ruler on their own. There's a reason that every King had a Small Council.”
Ned paused, breathing deeply. “I swore to Lyanna that I would keep him safe.” He whispered.
Varys sighed. For all of his scheming and plotting, he was not without a heart.
“Your sister wanted him safe against Robert and the Lannisters. If Joffrey ascends the throne, none of us will be safe. And this realm will not unite under Stannis, it just won't! There must be another, and I am sorry, but that is Jon.”
Ned sighed heavily, sending a silent apology to his sister beyond the veil.
“Robert will not accept my leaving without a reason.” He said in defeat.
“Trust me. That will not be an issue.”
*****
Ned was confused as to what the man meant until he was called to the Small Council chamber. The news of Danaerys Targaryan's pregnancy had Robert in an outrage.
While the news of the assassination, as well as Jorah Mormont's involvement, had Ned in an outrage.
The meeting had ended exactly the way that Varys had predicted - with Ned Stark ripping off his pin and slamming it down onto the table.
It wasn't until Ned was leaving the room that he'd realised that this was what Varys had meant.
As he was packing up his belongings and his children, Ned's mind was reeling from the recent events.
The fact that Varys would convince Robert to send an assassin after a girl halfway across the world, just because she was with child…
What mess has he gotten his family involved in?
He never should've left Winterfell.
*****
The ride out of King's Landing was solemn and silent.
Jon had told him that he was doing the right thing, but he didn't know the truth yet.
Ned could feel the scroll that Varys had given him burn a hole through his doublet. It was a simple version of events for Ned to tell to his family. To explain the truth about King's Landing and what is happening within the city. The other truth was his to figure out. He had to find a way to tell his family the secret he had been keeping for close to two decades.
Ned looked back one final time.
He saw Robert standing tall and strong, the stubborn set of his jaw exactly as it was in their youth.
He saw Jaime Lannister with a confused yet suspicious expression on his face.
And finally, his eyes slid to Varys. The spymaster had no discernable expression marring his features. But it was in his eyes. The vicious, unrelenting scheming of a viper about to strike.
Turning back, Ned’s eyes settled upon the sight to his left. It was Jon’s face. It was his sister's face. It was his son’s face. A face which would never look at him the same way once this trip home was over.
Ned settled his gaze forward, and let it harden.
There was a war to prepare for.