Ned Stark Lives! Chapter 1 Varys

An alternate version of George R.R. Martin's 'Game of Thrones', based on the books, asking what would happen if Ned Stark had lived. The story picks up soon after Ned Stark's arrest and Sansa pleading for his life. Arya is still on the loose, Tyrion has escaped from the Vale, and Stannis and Renly Baratheon are making plans to take the Iron Throne. Robb Stark is moving to the Riverlands and Tywin Lannister and his son Jaime are planning to meet his army. Yoren is in King's Landing, recruiting for the Night's Watch. Each chapter will be from one of the character' viewpoints, much like in the books. How many chapters, that I don't know yet. Of course, Mr. Martin is the owner of all and I humbly walk in his footsteps.

King Robert Baratheon was dead. The history books would write that he was killed by a boar that ripped his guts open while he was hunting in the Kingswood. But Varys knew the real truth, that King Robert's squire Lancel Lannister had fortified the king's wine and made sure he had plenty of it. Enough so that his spear did not aim true when the boar thundered down on the king. Varys' little birds told him these things and that Queen Cersei also had a hand in this and that she was fucking Lancel on the side.

But Varys now faced a more difficult problem as he made his way to the meeting of the new king's small council. The death of King Robert had set in motion a sequence of events for which Varys, most unusually, was not prepared for. The eunuch was not called master of whispers, or the Spider by the more ungracious, for nothing. But it was too soon for war. Oh yes, he wanted war, but in a year's time, six months at the earliest. Yet, other people wanted war sooner and he knew who that was. Lord Petyr Baelish, Littlefinger, had lied to the Stark's about the knife that had been used to try to kill their son Brandon in Winterfell. Varys knew it for a lie the moment he heard about Littlefinger's explanations. Tyrion Lannister, younger brother of the Queen, had no more reason to harm Brandon Stark than Varys did. Yet, that opening lie set off a wave of idiocy that was about to engulf the seven kingdoms in pools of blood. Ned Stark's son Robb was in open rebellion against the new King Joffery and Ned Stark sat in a dark, dreary cell.

"If he is so honorable why did he try to take my throne?" Joffrey spat, anger clear in his tone. "He was my father's friend!"

The Queen shifted uncomfortable in her chair. "He was always jealous of your father. Your Uncle Jaime said that the day King's Landing fell Ned Stark almost took the throne for himself. He was just biding his time until your father was dead and unable to stop him."

All lies, Varys knew, but Joffrey was not mollified. "He should be executed for his treason."

Cersei stared at her son. "Our trusted advisers are right. We don't need a war. And your uncles Stannis and Renly are both claiming the throne as their right. We need fewer enemies, not more."

Joffrey bristled for a moment. "My uncles. What right do they have? I am first in line. The Iron Throne is mine!"

"Of course it is," Cersei said sweetly. "They are liars who always feared and were jealous of your father. They will pay for their disloyalty. But we must deal with the Starks and the northmen first."

Joffrey calmed down. He turned to Varys. "Then let him take the black. But Sansa and the other one stay here."

"Of course, Your Grace," said Varys.

"Have we found the other one?" asked Pycelle in his slow growl. "What is the child's name?"

"Arya," Littlefinger told him.

"She was with her dancing master but he interfered when our men tried to seize her and she escaped," Cersei said. "But she will be found."

"He is no dancing master, Your Grace," Varys said softly. "His name is Syrio Forel and he was the first sword to the Sealord of Braavos for many years.'

Cersei's eyes narrowed. "Why did Stark have such a man teaching her dancing?"

There was a long silence and then one prisoner spoke. "You got whores at the Wall?" he asked and more than a few laughed.

"No," said Yoren. "But there's a whorehouse in Moles Town nearby. You ain't supposed to go but we always ain't got both eyes open if you know what I mean." All the men laughed now, even the two boys. "We need men," Yoren said again. "The Wall is long and isn't likely to be getting shorter. Any man who joins will be my brother once he says the words of our oath."

Varys noticed a few of them held their heads up a bit higher as Yoren said this. Some men just need a second chance to atone for life's mistakes. Joining the Night's Watch was one way to do this.

"The goaler will read off your names and any man wants to join comes with me on the morrow," Yoren told them. "It's a long ride but we have food and the fresh air and exercise will do you good. Right, let's start with the two boys. Who are they?" he asked Varys.

Varys looked at the parchment in the light of the lantern Yoren held. "Lommy Greenhands and Hot Pie."

"Seven hells, what kind of names are those?" Yoren asked with a scowl.

"The names they gave," said Varys. "Both here for petty thievery."

"I ain't a thief," the fat one said. "I was just…hungry." That brought more laughter. "I'm called Hot Pie cause I always pushed my mum's pie cart through the streets yelling 'hot pie', so everyone calls me Hot Pie. Then she died and she owed money for the shop so some men came and said it was theirs now and kicked me out in the street. I ain't got nowhere to go, no coin for food."

"Can you bake?" Yoren asked him.

"Sure. Bake best bread and pies you ever tasted."

"Boy, you want it, you got a new home."

Hot Pie hesitated. "Is it really cold on the Wall?"

"Always," said Yoren solemnly. "But it'll be warm in the kitchens."