Ned Stark and His Daemon

Game of Thrones daemon!AU art.

Blurb about Ned Stark and his Harris Hawk daemon, Alyth
Alyth is a Gaelic name meaning "rising"

As Ned rode away from Jon, away from the group heading for the Wall, his words kept echoing in his mind. I promise. The last time he had uttered those words had been to Lyanna. As she lay dying in his arms, her daemon bleeding golden Dust on the bed next to them. He remembered her smile, sad but happy, knowing that he would keep his promise to her. That he would protect the last piece of her that still lived.

Now that piece was riding off for the Wall.

Just like Benjen had seventeen years ago.

"We shouldn't let him do this," Alyth said as she swooped down to perch on his shoulder, her claws biting through his cloak. "He deserves better than a life at the Wall."

"He deserved better than being my bastard." Ned glanced at her, seeing the agreement in her dark eyes. "He deserved the life he would have had if his mother had not died. If his father had not..." He paused and shook his head. "Once he takes the oath he'll no longer be any sort of threat. His duty will be to the Watch and he'll honour that duty."

"Even after you tell him he's not a bastard. That he's not yours. That he is the rightful King of..."

"Even then." Ned gave Alyth a warning glance as they neared the rest of the group heading for King's Landing. "He'll honour his oath and duty, Alyth."

"And what of Robert? You think he'll care that our boy is rotting away on the Wall? You think he'll care that Jon is Lyanna's pup? All that fat pig will see is the son of the man he still hates. He'll have Jon killed just so no one will ever try and convince him to rebel against the crown and take back his grandfather's throne."

Ned sighed and remained silent. He knew Alyth was right. Knew if Robert ever learned the truth he would have to take up arms against his oldest friend. All to protect his sister's son. Continuing to ride his words, to both Lyanna and Jon, continued to echo in his mind.