Chapter 142: The King Who Made Robert Wait
The enormous eagle remained in Winterfell's courtyard long after Eddard Stark removed Jon's letter from its leg.
Even with its wings folded, the creature occupied nearly half the open space. Silver-tipped feathers gleamed beneath the morning sun, while enormous golden eyes followed every movement around it.
Northern soldiers stood along the walls with their weapons lowered.
The Lannister guards were far less comfortable. Several still clutched their swords, though none dared point a weapon toward the eagle after hearing the terrifying growl it had directed at Prince Joffrey.
Robert Baratheon continued reading Jon's letter.
His earlier amusement disappeared when he reached the instructions concerning Ned and the Stark girls.
Do not accept the position of Hand.
Do not leave Winterfell.
Do not send Sansa or Arya south.
Promise Sansa to no prince until I arrive.
Robert read the words a second time before looking at Ned.
"Your son gives commands as easily as a king."
"He is a king," Arya declared.
Catelyn placed a hand upon her shoulder.
"Arya."
"What?" Arya asked. "He is."
Robert stared at her for a moment before releasing a short laugh.
"Aye. This entire family appears determined to remind me."
Joffrey stepped forward, his face twisted with anger.
"He rules savages beyond the Wall. That does not make him equal to the King of Westeros."
The eagle's head turned.
One enormous golden eye fixed upon the prince.
Joffrey froze.
A deep vibration emerged from the creature's chest. It was quieter than its previous warning, but the stones beneath its talons trembled.
Joffrey immediately retreated toward Cersei.
Sansa watched him without speaking.
She remembered riding one of Jon's eagles during his last visit. The creatures had been smaller then, but they had still been large enough to terrify grown men.
Jon had stood beneath those enormous wings without the slightest fear. He had gently touched the eagle's feathers before climbing onto its back as though mounting an ordinary horse.
Then he had helped Sansa climb behind him.
Joffrey, however, had ordered his guards to kill the creature before understanding why it had come. When the eagle warned him, the prince had hidden beside his mother.
Jon commanded such creatures.
Joffrey feared them.
The difference between the two boys was impossible to ignore.
Robert folded the letter.
"Inside," he commanded. "Ned, you and I need to speak."
He glanced at the eagle.
"And someone find that beast a cow."
Bran brightened.
"It prefers deer."
Robert turned toward him.
"Of course it does."
"We have fresh venison," Robb said. "I'll have it brought."
"Bring all of it," Robert replied. "If that creature becomes hungry, I do not want it deciding that kings taste better than deer."
Tyrion raised his cup.
"Judging by the quality of royal blood these days, I suspect the deer will taste better."
Cersei glared at him.
Tyrion calmly drank his wine.
The royal party began moving toward the Great Keep, but the Stark children remained behind.
Arya cautiously approached the eagle.
The creature lowered its head toward her.
She placed one hand against the side of its enormous beak.
"You became much bigger."
The eagle closed one golden eye.
Rickon struggled free from Catelyn and hurried forward.
"My turn!"
"Slowly," Catelyn warned.
Bran joined Arya, laughing when the eagle gently moved its head between them. Sansa approached last. She carried herself with greater dignity than her younger siblings, although wonder remained visible upon her face.
The eagle recognised her as well.
Its eye followed her until she touched the soft feathers beneath its head.
"You remember us," Sansa whispered.
The creature released a quiet sound.
It was gentle and almost affectionate—nothing like the threatening growl it had directed at Joffrey.
Sansa glanced toward the Great Keep.
The handsome prince she had once imagined marrying had hidden behind his mother.
The brother whom much of Westeros still called a bastard had built a kingdom and sent a creature large enough to look over Winterfell's walls merely to deliver a letter.
Jon had warned her against marrying Joffrey.
Sansa did not yet understand his reasons, but she would not dismiss his judgment.
Not after everything she had seen.
Robert entered Ned's solar and threw Jon's letter onto the table.
"Twenty-five days."
Ned closed the door behind them.
"He is travelling by sea and then overland. The journey cannot be shortened if he brings the Titan and his soldiers."
"He could come upon that eagle."
"He explained why he will not. He wants his army nearby in case something happens."
Robert poured himself a cup of wine.
"He believes something will happen?"
"Jon rarely prepares without reason."
"Does he think I intend to harm your family?"
"If Jon believed that," Ned answered calmly, "he would already be here."
Robert grunted and drank deeply.
"That is not comforting."
"It was not intended to be."
Robert looked down at the letter. The black seal bearing a crowned direwolf lay broken beside it.
"Does he always speak as though every word is a commandment from the gods?"
"He rules hundreds of thousands of people. He has become accustomed to being obeyed."
"Aye, I noticed."
Robert lifted the letter again.
"Do not accept the position of Hand. Do not leave Winterfell. Do not send your daughters south. Do not agree to the marriage."
He lowered the parchment.
"Your son has rejected every reason for my journey before I have even spoken to him."
"He did not know you were coming when he wrote the warning."
"That makes it worse."
"It means the warning is sincere."
Robert poured another cup.
"Does he hate me?"
"No."
"He said he would reject my invitation to become part of the Seven Kingdoms."
"That does not mean he hates you."
"It bloody well sounds like it."
"Jon does not recognise your authority over him."
Robert's cup stopped halfway to his mouth.
"I am the King of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Winter's Heaven is not one of them."
Robert placed the cup down heavily.
"The lands beyond the Wall belong to no king."
"They belonged to no king," Ned corrected. "Jon united the people living there, cleared the dead from his lands, built cities and established laws. He accomplished it without your gold, your armies or your protection."
Ned's expression remained calm.
"You cannot command what you never ruled."
For several moments, Robert said nothing.
Another lord might have lost his head for speaking those words, but Ned Stark was the only man in Westeros who still spoke to Robert as a friend rather than a subject.
Finally, Robert laughed.
"You have become bold in your own castle."
"I am telling you the truth."
"Aye. That has always been your most irritating habit."
Robert moved toward the window. The eagle's head and shoulders were visible above the courtyard walls.
"You told me Jon possessed enormous eagles," he said. "You failed to mention that they could look over Winterfell."
"It has grown considerably since its last visit."
"Everything belonging to Jon appears to grow beyond reason. Eagles larger than buildings, giants in armour, direwolves as large as horses and a ship longer than King's Landing."
"Four kilometres," Ned said.
"I still do not understand what that means."
"Neither do I."
Robert stared through the window.
"And what happens when your son arrives? Will he order me to return south without my Hand?"
"He will tell us why he believes travelling south is dangerous."
"He already gave his counsel."
"He gave us a warning. The explanation will come when he arrives."
Robert looked back at his friend.
"And you intend to obey him?"
"I intend to wait and listen."
"I have known you since we were boys."
"And I have known Jon since the day he was born."
Robert saw the determination in Ned's eyes.
"Very well," he said at last. "I will wait twenty-five days. But I will speak to him myself."
"That is why he is coming."
"And the betrothal?"
"No decision will be made before Jon arrives."
Robert frowned.
"You believe he knows something about Joffrey?"
"I do not know what Jon has discovered," Ned answered. "But he would not warn me without reason."
Robert disliked the answer, but he did not argue.
He retrieved the letter and read another line.
"'Watch the mockingbird.' What in seven hells is that supposed to mean?"
Ned's expression hardened.
"I believe Jon wants us to watch Lord Baelish."
"Littlefinger?"
"Yes."
Robert laughed incredulously.
"Baelish is irritating, but dangerous?"
"Jon suspects everyone connected to Jon Arryn's death."
Robert's laughter vanished.
"He believes Jon was murdered?"
"So does Lysa."
Robert walked toward the table.
"Lysa is half-mad with grief."
"That does not mean she is wrong."
"Who would want Jon dead?"
"That is what Jon intends to discover."
Robert looked once more at the warning concerning the mockingbird.
"Baelish sits on my council. He finds gold whenever the crown needs it."
"And the crown's debt continues growing."
Robert grimaced.
"I do not understand numbers."
"Perhaps that is why you should question the man who controls them."
"You sound like Jon."
"I will take that as a compliment."
Robert snorted.
"You truly believe travelling south could destroy your family."
"I have received two warnings—one from Lysa and another from Jon. Ignoring both would be foolish."
Robert poured himself more wine.
"Very well. Twenty-five days."
He raised his cup.
"But if your son brings ten giants into my feast, he is paying for the food."
________________________________________
Cersei's chambers had been cleared of every servant except one trusted handmaiden.
Jaime stood near the window. Tyrion sat comfortably beside the fire, while Joffrey paced angrily across the room.
"He threatened me," Joffrey said.
"The eagle warned you," Tyrion corrected.
"It is an animal."
"A remarkably intelligent animal capable of swallowing you whole."
Joffrey turned toward him.
"I am the crown prince!"
"I doubt the eagle understands royal succession."
"It understood Arya."
"It understood that Arya was not trying to have it killed."
Cersei looked at Tyrion.
"Enough."
Tyrion took another drink.
Jaime continued watching the courtyard. The eagle was feeding upon several deer while the Stark children stood nearby. Arya appeared completely unafraid. Bran was inspecting one of its talons under Robb's supervision.
"I would not recommend provoking it again," Jaime said.
Joffrey stared at him in disbelief.
"You are the greatest swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms."
"Yes."
"Then kill it."
Jaime looked at the eagle and then at the sword hanging from his waist.
"That creature's eye is larger than my head."
"You are afraid?"
"I possess enough intelligence to recognise when a sword is insufficient."
Joffrey's face reddened.
Cersei moved toward the window.
"The eagle is not the true danger."
"No," Tyrion agreed. "Its master is."
Cersei's eyes narrowed.
"You sound impressed."
"I am impressed," Tyrion admitted. "Jon Snow journeyed beyond the Wall as a child and returned as a king. He built cities, commands giants, owns more Valyrian steel than the great houses combined and sails upon a ship that should be impossible."
"He is still a bastard."
Tyrion smiled.
"And yet the King of Westeros is waiting for him."
Cersei's expression hardened.
Jon's letter threatened far more than Joffrey's pride.
He had instructed Ned not to travel south. He had warned against the betrothal. Most dangerously, he had begun investigating Jon Arryn's death.
If Ned remained in Winterfell, he would be difficult to control.
If Jon arrived with soldiers and giants, removing Ned without provoking a war would become impossible.
Cersei looked toward her handmaiden.
"Prepare a raven."
Jaime turned from the window.
"To whom?"
"Grand Maester Pycelle. He must know that Jon Snow is investigating Jon Arryn's final days."
Tyrion slowly lowered his cup.
"You may wish to consider whether sending secret warnings concerning an investigation will make us appear innocent."
Cersei ignored him.
"Pycelle will inform the council."
"Or only those he considers loyal to Father," Tyrion said.
"The result is the same."
"No," Tyrion replied. "It rarely is."
Cersei gave him a cold look.
"The message leaves within the hour."
Joffrey stopped pacing.
"And what of the insult?"
Cersei placed a hand upon his shoulder.
"You will do nothing until Jon arrives."
"But he—"
"Nothing, Joffrey."
The prince fell silent.
Jaime returned his attention to the courtyard.
"If the stories concerning the Titan are true, Jon will arrive with enough power to seize Winterfell."
"He would never harm the Starks," Cersei said.
"I did not say he would."
Jaime glanced toward his sister.
"But if anyone threatens them, I doubt Robert's crown will offer much protection."
For the first time since entering the room, Cersei had no answer.
________________________________________
The Stark family gathered in Ned's solar that evening.
Robb stood beside the hearth. Bran and Rickon sat together, speaking excitedly about riding the eagle. Arya remained near the window so she could continue watching the creature.
Sansa sat beside her mother.
Ned placed Jon's letter upon the table.
"King Robert has agreed to wait until Jon arrives. I will not accept the position of Hand before speaking with him."
Robb nodded.
"That is wise."
Catelyn looked troubled.
"Robert may agree today and change his mind tomorrow."
"He gave his word."
"Robert has given many promises while sober and forgotten them after drinking."
Ned could not deny that.
Arya turned from the window.
"Jon will make him remember."
"Arya," Catelyn warned.
"He will."
Catelyn looked toward Ned.
"And the betrothal?"
"No agreement will be made."
Sansa lowered her eyes briefly.
Arya noticed.
"You are disappointed?"
"I did not say that."
"You wanted to marry Joffrey."
"I wanted to become queen," Sansa admitted.
Arya folded her arms.
"That is not the same thing."
"No," Sansa said quietly. "It is not."
Everyone looked at her.
Sansa remembered the songs about handsome princes and noble knights. Joffrey resembled the princes in those stories. He had golden hair, fine clothing and the rehearsed courtesy expected of a future king.
But that courtesy disappeared the moment he felt challenged.
"Prince Joffrey has been polite to me," Sansa said.
"He called Jon a savage," Arya replied.
"I know."
"He ordered the eagle killed."
"I know that as well."
Arya opened her mouth, but Sansa continued.
"He gave the order before understanding why it had come. When it warned him, he stepped behind the queen."
Bran frowned.
"Jon always stood in front of us when we flew."
Sansa nodded.
Jon had been younger than Joffrey when he began his journey, yet he had travelled into the frozen wilderness, survived dangers that killed experienced warriors and built something no southern lord could match.
Joffrey had inherited his title.
Jon had earned his crown.
"Jon was never cruel to people weaker than him," Sansa continued. "He never needed everyone around him to tell him that he was strong."
Arya's expression softened.
"So you do not want to marry Joffrey?"
Sansa considered the question seriously.
"I do not know Prince Joffrey well enough to decide."
"That means no."
"It means I will wait for Jon."
Ned watched his daughter with quiet approval.
Sansa met his gaze.
"Jon would not warn us without reason. If he believes the marriage is dangerous, I want to know what he has discovered."
Catelyn rested a hand upon hers.
"That is sensible."
Arya grinned.
"You could simply marry Jon."
The entire room fell silent.
Sansa's cheeks became red.
Catelyn stared at Arya.
"Arya!"
"What? He is already a king."
Robb covered his mouth, failing to hide his amusement.
Sansa glared at her sister.
"I do not need to marry anyone merely because he wears a crown."
"No," Arya agreed. "But Jon is far better than Joffrey."
"That is not difficult."
Arya's grin widened.
Sansa realised what she had admitted and quickly turned away.
Ned cleared his throat.
"This discussion is finished."
Bran raised his hand.
"Can we discuss riding the eagle again?"
"No," Catelyn answered immediately.
Rickon frowned.
"Why?"
"Because it is now large enough to carry the entire family away."
Arya looked toward the courtyard.
"Jon may have sent it for exactly that reason."
The humour slowly faded.
Everyone in the room understood the meaning hidden within Jon's preparations.
If danger came to Winterfell, he would not leave his family trapped behind its walls.
At Winter's Heaven, the concealed harbour thundered with activity.
The Winter's Titan rested upon the dark water like a man-made island.
Its four-kilometre hull stretched beyond sight. Towers rose from its upper decks. Windmills turned above farms, animal enclosures and rows of buildings. Heating seals warmed its internal sections, while electric lights illuminated the loading platforms.
Freight trains arrived one after another.
Crates of preserved food, medicine, antidotes, weapons and radio equipment disappeared through the Titan's enormous side gates.
One thousand elite soldiers assembled upon the main deck.
Their armour was black. Valyrian steel katanas hung at their sides, while dragonglass arrows filled their quivers. Direwolves moved among the formations, several of them nearly as tall as horses.
Ten giants marched up the reinforced loading ramp.
Every giant wore black plate armour.
Their enormous axes, hammers and swords had been forged in Winter's Heaven's royal workshops. Each footstep shook the platform beneath them.
Citizens gathered along the distant viewing areas to witness their king's departure.
Jon stood upon the command deck, wearing black armour beneath a heavy white cloak. Ghost waited beside him, silent and watchful.
Val approached with several administrative officers.
"All departments have confirmed their readiness," she reported. "Food and water have been loaded. The healers are aboard, and the radio teams are testing communications."
"You are staying here," Jon said.
Val raised one eyebrow.
"No."
"That was an order."
"And it was a poorly considered one."
Jon looked at her.
"Winter's Heaven requires its Head of Administration."
"Samuel can maintain domestic order. Alex will manage the treasury, and the council already understands its responsibilities."
Val stepped closer.
"You are entering a court filled with southern nobles who will judge every word you speak. You require someone who understands diplomacy and administration."
"I understand both."
"You also threaten to destroy entire kingdoms when your family is endangered."
"They understood me."
"That is precisely my concern."
Before Jon could answer, another voice came from behind them.
"If she's going, I'm going."
Ygritte approached in fitted armour with a bow across her back.
Jon sighed.
"No."
Ygritte stopped beside Val.
"You should save your breath. Neither of us is staying behind."
"I am not bringing both of you to Winterfell so you can argue throughout the entire journey."
Val and Ygritte looked at one another.
"We will not argue," Val said.
"She'll argue," Ygritte replied.
Val's eyes narrowed.
Jon rubbed his forehead.
Ghost turned his head away as though refusing to become involved.
A communications officer hurried onto the deck before the dispute could continue.
"Your Grace, Head Mario has received the first report from King's Landing."
Mario followed him, carrying several pages.
"That was fast," Jon said.
"Our agents already possessed fragments of the information," Mario explained. "Your orders merely told them which connections to examine."
He handed Jon the report.
"Jon Arryn visited several of Robert Baratheon's acknowledged bastards before his death. He also borrowed a book from Grand Maester Pycelle concerning the histories and lineages of Westeros's great houses."
Jon examined the page.
The evidence had begun appearing exactly where he expected.
"Anything concerning Lysa Arryn?"
"One of her servants disappeared shortly after Jon Arryn's death. We are attempting to locate him."
"Baelish?"
Mario's expression darkened.
"We discovered several unexplained payments made through businesses connected to his office. The amounts are small enough to escape ordinary attention but regular enough to suggest an information network."
"Continue investigating. No arrests and no confrontations."
Mario nodded.
"They do not yet know we are looking."
"Keep it that way."
A deep horn sounded across the harbour.
The final loading ramp began to rise.
Thousands of citizens struck their fists against their chests.
"JON!"
The cry spread along the docks.
"JON! JON! JON!"
The Titan's internal gates closed.
Engineers activated the enormous mechanisms beneath the waterline. Steel propellers began turning, pushing mountains of dark water away from the hull.
Jon walked toward the front of the command deck.
Val took her place to his right.
Ygritte deliberately stood to his left.
Neither woman looked at the other.
Jon decided the argument could wait.
"Open the harbour passage."
Signals travelled through the concealed dock.
The enormous sea gates slowly separated. Cold sunlight poured through the widening opening, revealing the ocean beyond.
"Full speed toward White Harbor."
The Winter's Titan moved.
Its departure sent waves crashing against the reinforced harbour walls. Towers, farms, soldiers, direwolves and giants travelled forward as one impossible floating city.
Jon watched Winter's Heaven disappear behind them.
Far to the south, Robert Baratheon believed he had agreed to wait twenty-five days for the arrival of a distant king.
The Lannisters believed they possessed twenty-five days to prepare.
Petyr Baelish still believed himself hidden.
None of them understood that Jon Snow's agents were already searching through their secrets.
The King of Winter's Heaven had begun his journey south.
Before he reached Winterfell, he intended to learn exactly who had murdered the previous Hand.
And if anyone threatened his family before his arrival, the enormous eagle waiting inside Winterfell would ensure that he learned of it.
End of Chapter 142
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Author's Note
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