WARNING. GAME OF THRONES SEASONS 1 2 AND 3 SPOILERS AHEAD. READ AT OWN RISK.
Ned Stark had just been beheaded. At least, he thought
he had. The guards let go of his back and the crowd cheered. His daughter was
nowhere in sight. Had the hound missed? He stood up and looked to his left.
That is when he saw the hound lift up his own head, minus its body.
Why was no one coming
after him? It seemed as though he had just disappeared. Nobody seemed to care
that he was now walking around, un-hindered by guards. He had no idea where
Arya was, as she was nowhere to be found. Sansa stood next to Joffrey, the
lying son of a bitch. How could someone go back on their word like that? But
the one thing Ned understood the least, is why he saw his own body in front of
him, without its head. He ran up to Joffrey intending to strangle him. But instead
of making contact with Joffrey and throwing him to the ground below, Ned’s
hands went right through him. Then all of the pieces fell into place.
Ned
understood what had happened. He had died. He had indeed lost his head. Joffrey
did indeed pass the order to behead Lord Eddard Stark. And it had happened. Ned
had passed into the afterlife. He understood that he was being granted a gift.
It was a gift that could also be a curse. He could use this opportunity to
watch over his children and his wife.
He
wondered how Jon Snow, his bastard son, was faring. Upon the thought of his
son, Ned found himself standing with a large number of the Night Watch, his son
among them. Each man was on horseback. “We will find Benjen Stark!” said the
commander, “Tonight the Night’s Watch will ride in full force!” “So he made it…” thought Ned. Or did Ned
actually say it. Things like this were difficult to express. “Jon did it. He is a member of the night’s
watch.” Ned found himself wondering
what sword his son was carrying. It was not the same one he had been using for
years. It had a beautiful pommel that looked like his house sigil, a wolf’s
head.
‘That is an astounding sword’ Thought Ned. ‘I
wonder how he acquired it.’ But the sword would have to wait. More
important issues were at hand. Suddenly a new thought popped into his head. As a
look of worry passed over his face, Stark uttered one word. ‘Arya’
Stark
willed himself to be with Arya no matter where she might be and instantly found
him with her. She and Yoren, whom he had assigned to protect her, were on their
way to the nights watch. Yoren was attempting to get Arya out of the area by
disguising her as a Night’s Watch Recruit. Ned watched his daughter as she
conversed with Genji Baratheon. ‘That’s
Robert’s bastard!’ Thought Ned. ‘He has the best claim to the throne!’ (In truth Joffrey did not belong on the iron
throne, as he was the product of an incestuous relationship between Jaime and
Cersei Lannister.) ”Well if you really are a boy, then pull your cock out and
take a piss” Said Genji. ‘Oh no.’ Thought
Ned. ‘He has her cornered on this one,
come on Arya think of something clever’ “Um, I, uh, I don’t need to piss.” Arya
replied rather nervously.” “Because you’re a girl.” Shot Genji, with a look of
triumph upon his face. Arya sighed and looked down at her feet, then back at
Genji. “You’ve got me. My name isn’t Arry. It’s Arya. Arya Stark.” Arya paused
and looked at Genji. Genji looked taken aback. “Of the house Stark.” Continued
Arya. Genji paused for a moment out of shock, and then said, “And I have been
pissing in front of you! I am so sorry! And, and I should be calling you milady
too!” “Don’t call me milady!” shot Arya. At that moment a pair of Lannister
soldiers rode up to the nights watchmen overseeing the boys, and announced they
were searching for someone. ‘Not good’ Ned thought to himself. “They’re looking for
me!” Whispered Arya. She quickly hid behind some crates. “We are here for a
bastard named Genji!” Shouted one of the two guards. “Reveal yourself to us,
and none shall be harmed.
Chapter
2
This was not a good time to leave but for the past
thirty minutes something about Jon had been nagging him. He would try to see
how this played out first. Yoren walked right up to the soldier who had just
spoken and pulled a dagger out. He then put it gently against the soldiers
privates. “You know, I hear that you soldiers can have any women you want when
you’re off duty. I however am able to put a nice nick in your cock right now.
It would be really hard to get women with a nicked cock now wouldn’t it? You
and your friend here just head back to where you came from, and tell your
commander you didn’t find him.” “We’ll be back, and with more men” said the
soldier as he galloped away on his horse. ‘Arya
will be ok. I should go check on Jon.’ And as soon as he thought that he
found himself there with the nights watchmen. They were in a rather long line.
They had seen a hill and planned to camp there for the night. Jon was talking
to Jeor Mormont. There was another man there. He was rather pudgy and seemed to
be very optimistic. “I heard that the HalfHand once spent an entire winter
beyond the wall” said the fat one. “Aye he did, Sam” Said Jeor. “A most
impressive feet.” And that was indeed impressive due to the fact that in
Westeros, winters lasted for years at a time. Jon simply said nothing.
Chapter
3
Ned felt something
pulling on him. It was like he was being sucked into a hole from behind. He
felt his vision fading as he slowly became blind. Ned began to panic. He heard
nothing. He saw nothing. Yet he was still conscious. Then he heard a faint
creaking sound. His visions started to fill with blurry colors. Than he saw
again. He breathed his first real breath in days. He could smell the countryside
around him. He felt his hands and the cold air. He was alive!
He could see that he
was on a cart with a three other men, whom he did not recognize. “Hey you” said
one of the three men. He had blond hair, and looked like a northerner.
“Finally awake? You
were trying to cross the border. Right? Walked right into that imperial ambush,
same as us, and that thief over there.” The man looked at a second man in the
cart who was wearing rags.
“Damn Stormcloaks.
Skyrim was just fine until you came along. Empire was nice and lazy. If they hadn’t
been looking for you, I’d ‘ve stolen that horse and been halfway to Hammerfell.
You there!” said the thief, referring to Ned. “We shouldn’t be here. It’s these
stormcloaks the empire wants.
“We’re all brothers
and sisters in bonds now, Thief.” Replied the first man.
“Shut up back there”
barked the driver of the cart.
“What’s wrong with
him huh?” asked the thief, referring to the third man in the cart.
“Watch your tongue!
You’re speaking to Ulfric Stormcloak, the true high king.” The first man exclaimed.
“Ulfric… the jarl of
windhelm? You’re the leader of the rebellion. But if they’ve captured you… Oh
gods! Where are they taking us?!”
“I don’t know where
we’re going, but Sovngarde awaits.”
“No! This can’t be
happening! This isn’t happening!”
“Hey… What village
are you from, Horse-thief?”
“Why do you care?”
“A nord’s last
thoughts should be of home.”
“Rorikstead, I’m from
Rorikstead”
They had reached the
gate. They pulled in to the fort in silence. The thief began to pray. They
eventually came to a stop in between a couple of towers.
“Hadvar, begin with
the list” Said one armored female.
The man known as
Hadvar stepped forward. They all got off of the cart.
“Step forward when I
call your name. Ralof of riverwood” The nord stepped forward.
“Sovngarde Awaits”
“Ulfric Stormcloak”
Ulfric got off
without saying a word.
“You’ll never catch
me!” yelled the thief as he ran.
“Archers!” yelled the
armored women.
Ned watched
expressionless as the shot him down. He had seen these kinds of things before.
“Anyone else feel
like running?”
Ned certainly didn’t.
“You there! Step
forward.” Said Hadvar “Who, are you”
“I am Ned Stark”
replied Ned.
“Captain! He’s not on
the list.”
“Doesn’t matter”
Replied the captain, “He goes to the block, same as the others.”
“Follow the captain”
Ned stepped forward
towards the block and watched as a nord’s head was removed.
“Next the nord in the
rags!” ordered the captain.
Ned walked up to the
block and set his head down, prepared to feel death for a second time. He heard
a roaring sound, and then “What in Oblivion is that?!” Yelled a man. Ned looked
up to see a huge dragon on the nearby tower… And then... All hell broke loose.
Chapter
4
Ned was getting used to being in Skyrim. Ever
since he had woken up on that cart to Helgen he had felt more free and alive
then he ever had. He felt most alive when he was fighting. Swinging his two
handed steel greatsword made him feel like a new man. He was stronger too. It
felt like he was 20 years younger. Some moments though had their downsides.
Like this one. Right now Ned was sneaking around a cave that a bunch of bandits
had holed up in. He stepped through the corridor and drew his bow. There was
only one bandit in this room. He pulled back the bow string with ease, and
released. The arrow whistled through the air, and killed the bandit before he
had time to scream. Instantly Ned dropped to one knee. He saw a memory from a
previous life. He was fighting several creatures. They looked a lot like the
orcs that he had met in Skyrim already. He was cleaving through them with ease.
He looked to his sides and saw two very short men. They couldn't have been more
than three and a half feet. They had collar length curly hair and were helping
him kill the orcs. Ned turned around and saw one orc that was different from
the rest. This one looked meaner, crueller. This orc had a bow in his hand. He
drew back the drawstring... and fired. Ned could do nothing but take it. He
dropped to his knees in shock. Now the pain came. It stung like a hundred wasps
stinging him in one spot. It cut like a knife inside of him. Ned pushed his
feelings aside, and stood up. He continued to kill the overwhelming numbers of
orcs when he felt a second arrow pierce his body. This one was more painful
than the last. He had to keep fighting though. For the hobbits. For some reason
that term felt right. He got up again and continued to fight. Until a third
peirced his body. He dropped to his knees. The orcs took the hobbits and there
was nothing he could do. The Uruk Hai walked up to him and drew another arrow
back. Again a familiar term. Ned looked up at him, prepared to die. Then
Salvation came. A man with a similar greatsword ran up and fought the uruk hai.
He couldn't even watch because he was in so much pain. The next thing he knew
the man was standing over him. "They took the little ones!” Ned exclaimed.
"Be still" said Aragorn. This one he knew by name. "Where is Frodo?"
asked Ned. Ned was beginning to accept the many names he recognized but did not
know. "I let Frodo go" "Then you did what I could not. I tried
to take the ring from him." "The ring is beyond our reach"
"I did not see. I've failed you all" "No. You fought bravely.
Let me take it." "No! Leave it. It is over. The world of men will
fall. Please. Protect Gondor." "I know not what will happen. But I
will not let that great city fall. Our people will be safe" "Our
people... Your people." Ned reached for his sword laying next to him.
Aragorn put it into his hand. He clasped the sword against his chest. "I
will always follow you my brother… my captain… My king" and with those
words, Ned left this world..... Ned saw again in the cavern. He realized they
had been his memories, he just could not recall them at will.
Chapter
5
Ned
awoke. He was not in his bed. He was in some kind of shack. Where was he? What
was going on? Then he heard a voice from behind. “Sleep well?” It was a woman.
He whipped around to see who was speaking. There was a woman lounging on top of
a bookshelf behind him. “What? Where am I?” Asked Ned. “Does it matter? You’re
warm, safe, and dry. More than can be said for old Grelod hmm?” Ned thought
back to the orphanage. He had walked in, only to find this old woman abusing
the children in the orphanage. Ned had taken matters into his own hands and
killed the old woman. “You know about
that?” “Half of Skyrim knows. Old hag gets butchered in her own orphanage?
Things like that tend to get around. Oh but don’t misunderstand. I’m not
criticizing. It was a good kill. But there is a slight… Problem.” Ned tensed,
ready for a fight. “I don’t think I like where this is going…” “You see, that
little Aretino boy was looking for the dark brotherhood, me and my associates.
Grelod the kind was one of our contracts. A kill you stole. A kill, you must
repay.” “You want me to murder someone else? Who?” “Well now, funny you should
ask. If you turn around you will see three people I have collected from, well
that doesn’t really matter now does it? The point is, there is a contract out
on one of them. They cannot leave this room alive. I just want to sit back and
observe… And admire” Ned turned around and saw the people in the room. Each was
bound, and had a black sack over their heads. He pulled out his bow, and nocked a single arrow. He pulled back the drawstring
and took a deep breath…
Ending one
Ned whipped around
and shot the woman, instantly killing her. He walked across the room and
unbound the three prisoners and set them free. “Thank you” each one said as
they quickly left the room.
Ending two (canon)
Ned aimed at the
middle of the three. He released the string. Instantaneously an arrow sprouted
from his head. He fell over without making a sound, dead. He then aimed at the
left and let another arrow fly, then looked over at the last prisoner and shot
him as well. “well well… Aren’t we the overachiever? Three possibilities, three
victims. Must have been one of them right? So why take chances?” “You told me to kill, and I killed” “Indeed,
for you my friend, seem to understand what I truly want.”
Chapter 6
Ned's eyes were focused on a deer, about a hundred
yards in front of him. The trees blocked most of the light of the sun. Without
making a sound he pulled the drawstring back. "focus" he thought to
himself. He looked at the tip of his arrow, and at the deer in the distance.
Everything he had learned about archery was being used. He made mental note of
the wind. He visualized the anatomy of the deer. Suddenly he began to feel a
pulling sensation in his gut. he dropped to the ground as the arrow sunk into a
tree. He stared at the ground and breathed heavily. He felt numbness take him
as his vision darkened. He saw blackness. Then, an image came into focus. He
saw his son, Robb walking towards him. "Robb!" Ned shouted. He was
overcome with Joy. Then, his wife faded into existance beside him.
"Cat!" This was one of the happiest feelings of his life. Robb smiled
back at him. "I'm glad to see you father. Even if it is only brief.
Unfortunately, I must pass on. It seems that your story isn't done yet. I'll
see you on the other side."
Ned turned to his wife. She looked up at him with
a somber smile. It was then that Ned noticed the red line across her neck. He
felt sad upon seeing it. "Do not despair Ned. We'll see each other again.
I promise." Ned lifted a hand up to her cheek. He gave her one last kiss
as she faded away.
Ned was harshly brought back to reality. He felt
the wind in his face. He could smell the trees. His vision was blurred, but
after a few seconds the leaves sharpened into focus again. The deer was nowhere
to be found. Ned looked up. He stood and thought about what this meant. If this
had happened once, maybe he could figure out a way to communicate with his
loved ones again. Perhaps the mages in Winterhold would know something. Ned
slung his bow over his shoulder and started walking north.
