Escape

Evening his breathing, Eddard closed his eyes. His accommodations in the Black Cells were terrible. He'd already lost track of the days, not a single glimpse of light for him to tell when day gave way to night.

The wound on his leg was no doubt infected, if it wasn't treated soon he imagined he would die. His condition was only made worse by the lack of proper food and sleep he had been getting.

No, Ned imagined he wasn't long for this world if things continued this way.

'But what will become of Sansa and Arya?' He did not want to imagine what the Lannisters would do to his daughters. They were so young and innocent, he couldn't bare the thought of them being in danger. 'And what of Robb, Bran and Rickon? What of Cat?'

The thought of his family was perhaps the single greatest cause of worry for him as he sat in his prison, but it was also the only thing that kept him going strong.

Especially now, he'd been visited by Lord Varys recently who told him his son, Robb was marching south with an army of Northmen at his back. Soon war would come to the Seven Kingdoms once again. But the one thing that worried Ned the most, was the fact that his son was leading them.

There was no denying Robb was a smart lad, Ned had never doubted that. But war was another matter all together, war changed a man, it showed the deepest, darkest parts of them.

His father, Rickard had always told him that in peace, sons bury their fathers but in war, fathers bury their sons. Ned had fought hard in two wars, first against the Targaryens and then against the Greyjoy's, all to ensure his children would never have to go to war. All to ensure that the natural order remained, so that it would be his children burying him, and not him burying them.

However, it seemed the world was cruel and had destroyed all his hard work.

Now his son marched south to war against the Lannisters.

Ned would not deny that he was scared, no he was terrified. Winter made men of boys and war made monsters of men. He and Robert had been young when they fought against the Targaryens, but his son was younger still, only a lad of five and ten.

Not even of age yet.

'Old Gods, the Seven, look over my family. Even if you ask for my life in turn, take it. Just save my family, I beg of you.' He prayed.

That's when he heard shuffling outside followed by what seemed to be a struggle. There was a brief shout, but that was quickly silenced after a dull thud of metal being struck hard by something. Again there was more shuffling, and then the door to his cell burst open, a number of men bursting in.

He didn't recognise them, they were no discernible colours or sigils leaving their loyalties unknown to him.

"Lord Stark?" One of them asked.

"Aye." Ned answered with a nod, warily staring at the men across from him.

"We've come to rescue you, m'lord." The same man spoke and Ned frowned. "We haven't got much time, we've managed to secure your daughters and got a boat down at Blackwater Bay waiting for us, but we most move quickly."

"Sansa? Arya?" He questioned, hope and relief filling him and the man nodded.

"Yes, m'lord."

Ned however, narrowed his eyes. "I was told that Arya had escaped and Sansa was being held hostage in the Red Keep. How am I to believe that you have them and this isn't a ploy?"

"M'lord please, I beg of you we don't have much time. If we don't leave now we will be caught and this will all have been for nothing. I swear to you, your daughters are safe and waiting for you in Blackwater Bay with those loyal to me."

"And who are you, Ser?" Ned questioned, the man sounded earnest but he wasn't just going to trust him straight away. He'd done that with Littlefinger and look where that had gotten him.

"I'm nobody, m'lord, just a simple commoner, a soldier, not a Ser. But the man I work for, he said that I must get you of the city no matter the cost. But I fear if we do not leave now, it will all be for nought. Please, m'lord." The man tried once more and Ned was almost swayed.

But not entirely.

"Do you have something belonging to your lord that I may identify him by?" Ned demanded and the man paused, but he noticed it the look of relief on the mans face. He rummaged in his pockets and then handed a brooch out to Ned who took. As he looked at it, his eyes widened in shock before a smile came upon his face.

"I apologise my friends, let us be off. I want to see my daughters." Then he would head north and meet with his son, hopefully before everything was too late.