Lynn's Plan

The clamor in the banquet hall had long since faded.

Only the occasional clink of cups and plates remained as the servants cleared away the mess.

Night wind slipped through the cracks around the window. Inside Lynn's room, all was deathly still.

He had not lit a lamp.

Moonlight passed through the narrow window, casting a cold patch of light on the floor.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, his longsword resting across his knees.

He was waiting.

Knock, knock-knock.

An exceedingly faint, almost cautious knock sounded at the door.

Lynn opened his eyes in the darkness, unsurprised.

Just as expected.

Those who were meant to come would always come.

Lynn climbed off the bed, stepped barefoot onto the cold stone floor, and drew back the bolt.

Two people stood outside.

Maester Luwin held a lantern whose flame flickered in the wind.

His usually composed face was now heavy with concern.

Behind him, in the shadows, stood a taller figure.

Ned Stark.

The arrival of the Warden of the North instantly made the cramped room feel oppressive.

Lynn stepped aside to let them in.

Ned bent beneath the low doorframe.

He did not look at Lynn. His gaze swept over the room's sparse furnishings before settling on the longsword on the bed.

Maester Luwin closed the door behind them, shutting out the cold wind.

"Sorry to disturb your rest at this late hour."

Maester Luwin's voice was much like the man himself: dry, cautious, and courteous.

"My lord."

Lynn respectfully gestured toward the room's only chair.

Ned did not sit.

He simply stood there, radiating a chill colder than the winter night outside.

Maester Luwin took a roll of parchment bound with thin cord from his loose robes.

The roll was pitifully small, almost fitting entirely within his palm.

"A letter from the Eyrie."

Maester Luwin untied the cord with slow, solemn movements.

"It arrived through a secret channel. My lady has already deciphered it."

He unrolled the parchment and held it close to the lantern.

The dim yellow light illuminated the unease in his eyes.

"It's from Lady Lysa... Lord Jon Arryn's widow, and Lady Catelyn's sister."

Only Maester Luwin's hoarse voice echoed through the room.

"In her second secret letter, she says Jon Arryn did not die of illness. She also claims to have concrete evidence."

Maester Luwin raised his head and looked at Lynn.

"If what Lysa says is true, then Lord Arryn was indeed murdered."

Anger burned in Ned's gray eyes.

"Lysa says the Lannisters did it."

"The Lannisters."

"My foster father, the man I respected above all others, was murdered by the Lannisters!"

Ned seemed to force the words through clenched teeth, each one steeped in hatred.

His suppressed fury, like a volcano on the brink of eruption, seemed to heat the very air.

I'm surrounded by vipers...

Ned remembered what Robert had said in the crypts.

He remembered Cersei's beautiful, cold face.

He remembered the ever-mocking look in Jaime Lannister's eyes.

Prophecies.

Warnings.

Now, they had all become a bloody reality.

Ned abruptly turned to Lynn.

There was no longer any doubt or scrutiny in his gaze.

Only the pain of seeing the truth confirmed, and the desperation of a man reaching for his last lifeline.

"Everything you foretold has now come true."

"What should we do now?"

"Are we still supposed to go to King's Landing?"

Maester Luwin also looked at Lynn.

For the first time, awe and fear of an unknown power showed in the learned elder's eyes.

Prophecy, an ability spoken of in legends.

And the man who possessed it stood right before him!

Lynn met their gazes.

He took the secret letter from Maester Luwin's hand and threw it into the fireplace.

"My lord, you must go to King's Landing."

"What?"

Ned almost thought he had misheard.

"Go to King's Landing? Into the den of beasts that killed my father?"

"How is that any different from suicide?"

"Shouldn't we change our plans?"

"That is precisely why you must go south, my lord."

Lynn looked at Ned, emphasizing every word.

"The Hand of the King, the most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms, died in his own bed."

"And his killer may well be the woman sharing the king's bed."

"You understand King Robert's peril better than I do."

"He trusts you. He needs you."

"At a time like this, who else in the Seven Kingdoms would dare go to King's Landing and root out the vipers coiled beneath his throne?"

"My lord, you swore fealty to your king."

Lynn's words cut straight into Ned Stark's heart.

Honor.

Duty.

Loyalty to his dearest friend.

These things had long since been carved into his bones, becoming inseparable parts of his life.

Ned's breathing grew heavy.

He clenched his fists.

Yet nothing good ever came of a Stark going south.

His father and elder brother had answered the Mad King's summons, only to be tortured to death.

And the previous Hand of the King had already fallen victim to a conspiracy.

If he became the new Hand, he would inevitably become everyone's target.

Lynn watched him quietly.

He watched this King in the North struggle painfully between loyalty and danger.

Yet in Lynn's mind, another, even wilder scheme was taking shape.

Ned Stark's journey to King's Landing was inevitable.

Even if Ned refused to go, Lynn would find a way to send him south.

It was not that Lynn intended to send Ned to his death.

As long as Ned was willing to set aside his ridiculous code of honor.

As long as he was willing to confront southern schemes with northern methods.

Then Lynn could guarantee it.

There were far too many opportunities in King's Landing.

Enough... for a direwolf to sit upon that throne of swords as regent.

The process might prove somewhat challenging, but having crossed into this world, with a system that could strengthen his combat prowess, Lynn was not afraid of the risks.

And House Stark would become his most important stepping stone, as well as a safe haven where he could steadily build his strength in the early stages.

Better to take control himself than rely on others.

The Iron Throne had always been his goal!

A flicker of burning ambition passed through Lynn's eyes, unnoticed even by him.

He intended to play this game.

And he intended to win.

House Stark was also the quickest route to supreme power currently within Lynn's reach!

On a broader level, Ned was a genuinely good man, someone willing to get things done.

On a personal level, given his relationship with Arya Stark, Ned would be his future father-in-law.

As long as House Stark supported him, he would not mind giving them a share of the rewards.

Besides, he had the system.

As long as he had time to develop and grow stronger.

Then, aside from dragons and the Night's King, Lynn would fear no living creature!

"I understand."

Only after a long silence did Ned finally speak.

The conflict and anger in his eyes had faded, replaced by the resolve of a man marching into danger.

"I will go to King's Landing."

"I will uncover the truth and avenge my foster father."

Maester Luwin opened his mouth.

He, too, wanted Ned to go south.

But Ned would be walking into a beast's den, and he feared for his safety.

In the end, all he could do was let out a helpless sigh.

Ned gave Lynn a long, searching look.

"You're a fine young man."

"Once you've finished your visit to the Wall, come to King's Landing."

"I'll be waiting for you there."

With that, Ned lingered no longer.

He turned and opened the door, his tall figure swiftly vanishing into the night.

Maester Luwin set the lantern on the table and gave Lynn a solemn bow.

"House Stark owes you a favor."

With those words, the old maester followed him out.

Silence returned to the room.

Lynn walked over to the window and pushed it open.

Cold night air rushed in, dispelling the oppressive atmosphere.

Lynn looked at the distant crescent moon, his hand unconsciously clenching into a fist, then slowly exhaled a plume of white breath.

The game has officially begun.

Jon Arryn had died through the collusion of Cersei and Littlefinger, while Lysa Tully, Arryn's wife, had maintained her tangled relationship with Littlefinger and ultimately brought about Arryn's death.

Put simply, Catelyn's sister Lysa was not only Arryn's wife, but also Littlefinger Baelish's mistress.

But the woman Littlefinger truly loved was Ned's wife, Catelyn, and Catelyn had married Ned.

A strange web of romantic entanglements.

Lynn could not tell Ned yet that Littlefinger had plotted to poison Arryn.

Ned already disliked Littlefinger. If he learned this, he would probably kill Baelish outright.

And as a hidden player outside the four major powers, Baelish was not someone Lynn wanted eliminated so early.

Baelish believed his political scheming had reached its pinnacle, unaware that someone with an unfair advantage had already seen through everything. To Lynn, all of Baelish's covert manipulations were an open hand of cards!

Nor did Lynn intend to expose Baelish immediately.

Baelish posed no threat to Lynn whatsoever.

He still needed Baelish to keep muddying the waters, allowing him to reap the benefits while others fought.

As long as he could crush Baelish's plots against House Stark, a desperate Baelish would inevitably drive a wedge between House Baratheon and House Lannister.

And that was exactly what Lynn wanted.