Author´s note: This is the end of A Game of Thrones. A Clash of Kings goes next.

Chapter 7: The Winter is coming

Edderion

Huge crowd had gathered in front of Great Sept of Baelor to witness his uncle confess his crimes. He was angry, but decided to keep his emotions hidden for some time, simply because he had no steel by his side and Joffrey surely just waited for more reasons to kill him. They brought uncle Eddard. His uncle had been in Black cells long time and changed a lot. He was much thinner and had muddy face, his hair were a grey-brown mess and his beard has been unkept. They brought Edd´s uncle right next to the king.

"This man has been accused of treason" High Septon spoke, pointing at Lord of Winterfell "He wishes to confess his crimes"

The crowd started shout insults and throw stones at Lord Stark, and Gold-cloaks made a small shieldwall to protect him. Only king´s sign stopped them from throwing and made then shut up for a moment. Then, his uncle stepped forward.

"I am Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell" Edd´s uncle started "and Hand of the King. I come before you to confess my treason in the sight of gods and men. I betrayed the faith of my King and the trust of my friend Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children..." he looked on Sansa, who nodded to him, possibly with a smile and then on Edd, who shook his head in disagreement "but before his blood was cold, I plotted to murder his son..." someone from the crowd threw a stone on Edd´s uncle and he stumbled, but got help from a gold-cloak behind him "and seize the throne for myself. Let the High Septon and Baelor the Blessed bear witness to what I've said. Joffrey Baratheon..." he looked at Jeyne this time and saw a frightened little girl "is the one true heir to the Iron Throne... by the grace of all the gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."

"The Gods" the High Septon started talking to the crowd "are merciful, but, in this times of peril and chaos, we must bestow the decision upon the mercy and wisdom of our king" old man turned on Joffrey "Your Grace, what is to be done with this... traitor?"

The praise rose as Joffrey stepped in front of the crowd and made them silent "My mother said I should let Lord Stark take the black. My lovely betroth asked me to be merciful about her father" he looked on Sansa with a smirk on his face "but they have the weak hearths of women! Under my rule, the treason shall not go unpunished!" he turned to the executioner "SER ILYN! BRING ME HIS HEAD!" the king ordered

The crowd cheered, while Varys, queen and High Septon rushed towards Joffrey and begged him to stop this madness. Sansa collapsed on the ground and Jeyne just watched, petrified by what she was about to see. Edd rushed to his sister, kneeled and pushed her head against his chest.

"Don´t look" he said and then watched as Ilyn Payne took Ice and beheaded his uncle with one swift swing.

Willam

Riverrun was beautiful. He had never seen anything like that before. A castle that could make itself an island. He sat on a boat next to his father, who was treated by a maester Lord Edmure gave him. The maester´s name was Vyman and he seemed grateful for coming out of castle for once.

"Last few years I was just making medicaments for our poor Lord Hoster" he explained while cleaning the wound on father´s shoulder, forcing the milk of poppy on him afterward.

"Is he going to recover?" Will asked anxiously, hoping for a good news

"I´m not sure" maester replied to young Stark "but you can be sure he will live for now"

"Thank you maester" Willam said and the boat finally arrived to castle, where Robb already waited with his uncle and mother by his left side and Greatjon on the right.

It was Lord Umber who helped him from the boat, even though Will stumbled and nearly fell into the river. He was still in his armour, so he would´ve possibly drown. His mail was bloodied, as well as his helmet and his shield was basically non-existent. His sword would need sharpening for sure and his boots needed repair on places where Brax man-at-arms slashed his foot. Why do I always get into the most brutal fighting?, Willam asked himself, but couldn´t reply, because he was tired and needed rest.

He woke up on the floor of his chamber. He didn´t know how he got there, just remembered that he was on his way for bed when he stumbled and fell into a deep sleep. But even though his whole body ached, he felt refreshed... somewhat. He went into the great hall, where was surely the breakfast served.

While going through the courtyard, where the men were training, he got caught by Riverrun master-at-arms, ser Desmond Grell, old man with large belly and grey hair who gave him a letter.

"This arrived this morning, milord" old man said "it was meant for your father, but given his condition..."

"Give it to me already" Willam said impatiently "I just woke up" ser Desmond obeyed and handed him the letter. Willam opened it, and stood, stunned by what he read. It was from Torrhen.

"Father,

I´m sorry, but your wife died of pneumonia.

But I also have some good news, it looks like Wyna is with child. I hope the war ends quickly, I hate sitting here doing nothing...

Farewell,

Torrhen"

Willam stood silent. Lady Alis was like a mother he never had to him. The letter remained in his hands.

"Where is the Godswood?" Will asked

"There" ser Desmond replied, obviously surprised by the sudden question and pointed on near the great hall "but Lord Robb is pra-"

"Thank you" Willam ignored him and rushed for the Godswood

He saw Robb, kneeling in front of Hearth tree with other northern lords and even few riverlords. Willam stood silent, and joined the other men. He knelt next to Smalljon and Dacey Mormont, with Lucas Blackwood next to him. Gods, Willam silently started a prayer, give me strenght , for I don´t know what to do. My mothers are dead, my father is possibly dying and my favourite brother is hostage. Tell me, what shall I do?, he heard nothing, not even wind. The Old Gods are deaf here, Willam thought, that is a bad omen. We are winning the war, but one blow can destroy everything.

He heard footsteps from behind, but didn´t turn. Instead he continued in his prayers. Give me strenght to kill Lannisters, Willam prayed and hoped that Gods hear him. Give strenght to my father, Will continued the prayer and then stood along with others.

"We must call the war council" Robb said as he turned to him

The great hall of Riverrun was packed with lords that evening. Blackwoods sat as far away as they could from Brackens and Lord Karstark looked like a ghost, because his sons were either dead or captured. The man lost all of his three sons, two in Whispering Wood and one on the Green Fork. The only child that has been left to him was a daughter, Alys, who remained at Karhold and Lord Karstark tried to propose her to Torrhen few years ago, but father refused, because he wanted a better bride "I want a Manderly girl" Willam remembered father tell him "So I´m sending Torrhen to White Harbor to choose his bride from the two girls".

Finally, the last ones were being seated. Willam took the place of his father, who was right now bedridden and suffered from fever he possibly got from his wounds. Maester said that under normal circumstances his father would be dead by now. We are Starks, Willam thought bitterly, we are hard to kill, he told himself and prayed for it to be true. Soon, men started arguing.

"The next course is clear" said someone in the crowd "we swear fealthy to King Aegon and march towards King´s Landing" now, Willam realized that the man was Lord Goodbrook

"Aegon is not the king" Willam replied with strenght in his voice "the Targaryens are past"

"My cousin is right" Robb simply said, it was the first thing he said on that meeting

"You cannot swear to Joffrey, my lord" said Greatjon "he murdered your father"

"That makes him evil, but let´s not forget that Robert had two brothers"

"We don´t want Stannis!" shouted someone, it was Lord Vypren who spoke "he´s too stern and nobody loves him" some men nodded in agreement with the old lord and Willam somewhat shared their opinion. He didn´t know Stannis, but heard that he knighted a man just to chop off his fingers afterwards. He didn´t know why, but that sounded cruel enough to not want Stannis for Willam.

"What of Renly, then?!" Willam shouted recklessly, but maybe two men agreed with him

"Renly is Robert´s youngest brother" Robb replied calmly. Soon, men started to argue again, this time over whom should they support. It looked like fight will take place soon, but then, Greatjon stood.

"My lords" he said "MY LORDS!" Umber shouted and the hall got quiet "THIS IS WHAT I THING OF THOSE KINGS!" he spat and men laughed "STANNIS IS NOTHING TO ME! NOR AEGON, NOR RENLY EITHER! WHY SHOULD ANY OF THOSE RULE OVER ME AND MINE FROM SOME FLOWERY SEAT IN THE SOUTH!" he calmed now, because the hall was silent now "What do they know of the Wall? Or the Wolfswood?" he drew his ugly great sword and pointed it on Robb "THERE SITS THE ONLY KING, I MEAN TO BEND MY KNEE TO!" he shouted and knelt, I like the way this is going, Willam thought "THE KING IN THE NORTH!" Jon Umber shouted

Willam stood up, went next to Greatjon and drew his longsword "I never thought I´ll be able to say this" Will said and smirked "THE KING IN THE NORTH!" he knelt next to Umber and soon he was followed by Maege Mormont, Lord Karstark, and others. Even the Riverlords were chanting the old words that nobody said in last three hundred years.

"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"

"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"

"THE KING IN THE NORTH!"

Aegon

"My lords" Aegon started while having a piece of parchment in his hands "Lord Eddard Stark is dead" he didn´t know how easy it would be for him to say that, nor could he believe that it was true "the Boy king Joffrey ordered his execution"

"What do you plan, my lord?" Lord Velaryon asked, while watching Aegon with his dark blue, nearly indigo, eyes. Velaryon´s half-brother, Aurane Waters, was playing with a dagger and a cup of wine. The sight of him reminded Aegon of Rodrik Stark´s bastard, Edderion, who was a hostage in King´s Landing.

"I have sent my uncle, lord Viserys, to buy twenty thousand men of the Golden Company for my cause. Lord Celtigar, how many men can Dragonstone muster?" Aegon asked and watched as old man stood up

"Around thirty five hundred, my lord" Lord Ardrian replied and sat immediately. The man is old, Aegon thought, he thought that he will spend the rest of his days in his castle and I possibly destroyed his hopes

"And nearly two hundred ships" Monford Velaryon added. Aegon stood up.

"Everyone," young Targaryen started "muster every man that can wield a spear, ax, sword and shield and send them here. Take any ship you can find and bring it here. Sharpen your weapons, brave your souls, pray to the Gods. For Dragonstone calls the banners"

Edderion

Sansa still wept from the day Joffrey ordered the death of her father, while he still couldn´t believe it. He saw death before, even killed, once by sword and a dozen times with bow and arrows. He was used to the final dance of the dead men, he even enjoyed it... but this was different, this was his uncle who died. He has barely known uncle Ned, who would ride south to Winterkeep to see his twin-brother and eldest nephew, together with Robb. How did Robb look like? Edd remembered only that he had Tully looks, blue eyes and auburn hair, high cheekbones. Nothing like his father.

Jeyne took the whole thing much easier, even though Edd didn´t know how can she be fine. She had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and she took much from her mother. She took the more pretty features of her mother´s and father´s families, thank the Gods. His half-sister was tall for her age, but not as tall as giant, she had good manners and also she was graceful. That must´ve been the reason why father took her with him south instead of Lyanna, who was petite, frail and wild. She loved archery, and father allowed it most of times, but took care of Lyanna´s education, so he made sure she attended the lessons with septa and other ladylike activities. Both his sisters dreamt of brave handsome knights they might marry one time.

It´s been a two weeks since the death of his uncle when Joffrey ordered his presence in the Throne room, so he went. There was no point in defiance right now, not when Starks died like flies. So, he went and blessed Joffrey with his presence.

He arrived, but didn´t see anyone in the Throne room. He waited for some time and then he saw Joffrey come from the door that led into the ramparts, followed by two of his Kingsguards and Jeyne with Sansa, his cousin with a bloody lip. That enraged him, he was to blinded with red rage and when he calmed down he saw Joffrey lying on the floor with a bloody nose and Ser Meryn with Hound were holding Edd´s arms while Sansa sobbed and Jeyne just stared at him in disbelief.

"I will have your head" Joffrey told him and Edd knew he is doomed if miracle doesn´t happen.

When they led him from the Red Keep, Edderion saw a Red comet flying in the sky.

Happy new year everyone! I´d like you to tell me what you think of the way story goes and which character you like/dislike the most. And one question: Did my writing got better, or is it still the same? I´d like to know

Bye