Afterlife, Updated again.

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.