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Eddard

He dreahts in white cloaks, and a tower long fallen, and Lyanna in her bed of blood

In the dream his friends rode with him, as they had in life Proud Martyn Cassel, Jory’s father; faithful Theo Wull; Ethan Glover, who had been Brandon’s squire; Ser Mark Ryswell, soft of speech and gentle of heart; the crannogreat red stallion Ned had known their faces as well as he knew his own once, but the years leech at a et In the drearey wraiths on horsesthree In the dream as it had been in life Yet these were no ordinary three They waited before the round tower, the redin the wind And these were no shadows; their faces burned clear, even now Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, had a sad sreatsword Dawn poked up over his right shoulder Ser Oswell Whent was on one knee, sharpening his blade with a whetstone Across his white-enas Between thehtower, the White Bull, Lord Couard

"I looked for you on the Trident," Ned said to them

"We were not there," Ser Gerold answered

"Woe to the Usurper if we had been," said Ser Oswell

"When King’s Landing fell, Ser Jaiolden sword, and I wondered where you were"

"Far away," Ser Gerold said, "or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells"

"I cae," Ned told them, "and the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights bent the knee to pledge us fealty I was certain you would be a them"

"Our knees do not bend easily," said Ser Arthur Dayne

"Ser Willeonstone, with your queen and Prince Viserys I thought you ood man and true," said Ser Oswell

"But not of the Kingsguard," Ser Gerold pointed out "The Kingsguard does not flee"

"Then or now," said Ser Arthur He donned his helm

"We swore a vow," explained old Ser Gerold

Ned’s wraiths moved up beside hiainst three

"And now it begins," said Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning He unsheathed Dawn and held it with both hands The blade was pale as ht

"No," Ned said with sadness in his voice "Now it ends" As they caether in a rush of steel and shadow, he could hear Lyanna screa "Eddard!" she called A storm of rose petals blew across a blood-streaked sky, as blue as the eyes of death

"Lord Eddard," Lyanna called again

"I promise," he whispered "Lya, I promise"

"Lord Eddard," a , Eddard Stark opened his eyes Moonlight streah the tall s of the Tower of the Hand

"Lord Eddard?" A shadow stood over the bed

"Howhow long?" The sheets were tangled, his leg splinted and plastered A dull throb of pain shot up his side

"Six days and seven nights" The voice was Vayon Poole’s The steward held a cup to Ned’s lips "Drink, my lord"

"What?"

"Only water Maester Pycelle said you would be thirsty"

Ned drank His lips were parched and cracked The water tasted sweet as honey

"The king left orders," Vayon Poole told him when the cup was empty "He would speak with you, my lord"

"On the er" He could not face Robert now The dream had left him weak as a kitten

"My lord," Poole said, "he commanded us to send you to him the hting a bedside candle

Ned cursed softly Robert was never known for his patience "Tell him I’m too weak to come to him If he wishes to speak with me, I should be pleased to receive him here I hope you wake him from a sound sleep And summon" He was about to say Jory when he reuard"

Alyn stepped into the bedchamber a few moments after the steward had taken his leave "My lord"

"Poole tells s stand"

"The Kingslayer is fled the city," Alyn told him "The talk is he’s ridden back to Casterly Rock to join his father The story of how Lady Catelyn took the Iuards, if it please you"

"It does," Ned assured hihters?"

"They have been with you every day, my lord Sansa prays quietly, but Arya" He hesitated "She has not said a word since they brought you back She is a fierce little thing, irl"

"Whatever happens," Ned said, "I want "

"No harm will come to them, Lord Eddard," Alyn said "I stake my life on that"

"Jory and the others"