Eddard Thornton/History

Season Two Fanon

### Ashes and Snow

Ned glares at Talia Forrester as she enters Timberwatch's entrance hall, cleaning his sword.

### Ever Higher

#### Blind Man's Bluff

After Talia beats Ostyn Thicket in a sparring match, Ned approaches and mocks the girl. Talia tells the man to say what his problem is or just leave it out. Ned introduces himself and talks about how the town of Stillport was caught up in the Whitehill-Forrester blood feud for no good reason (aside from the fact that it was where Asher Forrester made landfall).

Lyarra says her family was dragged into the feud too, but it didn't mean she was horrid towards Talia, but Ned points out that the rest of her family was. Getting between Ned and Lyarra, Ostyn tells him to back off. The man does, but says that he would be able to cleave Ostyn in two if he wasn't a 'child'. As Ned departs, Ostyn states his hatred of bullies but Lyarra says to give him the benefit of the doubt as Torrhen Whitehill has his son.

#### Brothers of the Wolfswood

Days later, many different houses assemble in Timberwatch's great hall. The group is silenced when Lord Greyson appears at the head of the hall, alongside Maester Ebbert. Nestor thanks Lords Bole, Branch, Elliver, Brownbarrow and Woods for coming to Timberwatch, as well as Ostyn Thicket, Eddard Thornton and Namond Glenmore (who are representing houses Riverstone, Thornton and Glenmore respectively). He goes on to note House Whitehill's behaviour and how they cannot stand to let their houses be stamped on repeatedly, such as with Ironrath, Stillport and what happened to Aaren Greyson. The new arrivals are shocked to find that Talia Forrester is alive, but Nestor tells them to keep calm and enforces the idea of uniting to take the Whitehills down. Lord Harlow Branch advises against an attack on the Whitehills, citing the weakness of all houses present, and Marcyn Elliver notes that the Boltons will beat them down even if they do succeed. Ned argues that they should fight back and show that they are not keen to just be stamped on, but Hallis Brownbarrow recommends they temper their thoughts with wisdom and think about things - stating that even if they take the Whitehills down, the Boltons would tear them all apart. Namond Glenmore asks if that means they should just leave their families in harm's way, and before he can continue Alban Woods calls him out for betraying his allies in favour of his foes once already. Despite this, Ned agrees with Namond and informs the Lords that the Whitehills have both his son and cousin hostage, then goes on to ask why his other cousin, Davyn Bole, has not spoken up as his keep is garrisoned by the Whitehills. Davyn meekly responds that the Whitehills aren't causing any trouble prompting Ned to ask if he considers them his allies. A Bole soldier demands that his Lord is shown respect, to which Ned responds that he will get respect when he earns it. Nestor quickly shoots down the discourse. He mentions that Stannis Baratheon is marching on Winterfell where the Boltons will summon their closest allies - including the Whitehills - to defend them, leaving Highpoint vulnerable. He suggests they take this advantage and crush the Whitehill bloodline.

After some discussion, Lord Woods backs out in a rage and Lord Bole quickly follows. Lord Branch is unconvinced and starts to argue until Talia interrupts and tells everyone to be quiet - to turn their hatred not on each other, but on the Whitehills. Eventually the Forresters, Brownbarrows, Greysons and Glenmores agree to ally, alongside Ned and Ostyn Thicket who represent Houses Thornton and Riverstone, while Lord Branch backs out but states he will provide them with aid if they need it after their mission is failed or accomplished. A Greyson bannerman runs into the hall, stating that the Whitehills have returned.

Entering the courtyard, Ned is concerned that the Whitehills are already back. Hugar vows revenge on those who harmed Aaren, and Namond commands that they strike first and don't give their foes a chance. Talia asks what's going on and Hugar tells her to stay back. The gate guard begins to argue with the people at the gate, while Talia disobeys Hugar's orders and barges her way through the crowd. When she spies who is at the gate, her eyes widen with shock.

The new arrival is revealed to be none other than Rodrik, who Talia instantly hugs. Elaena tells Rodrik that she is pregnant with his baby, and Rodrik apologises that he was unable to help her in the siege as he was injured. Elaena disregards his point and says what matters is that they're together and can marry so that their child won't be born a bastard. Rodrik furthers his point that all the Whitehills have to die so that their child will be safe, and Hugar declares support for his cause, bending the knee to him. Ned and Hallis quickly follow suit while Namond hesitates. Looking over his shoulder, the Glenmore sees his wife and younger sisters. He decides to swallow his pride for their sake and bends the knee to Rodrik too, declaring him the True Lord of Ironrath.

#### A Call to Arms

Rodrik enters Timberwatch's Great Hall, announcing that they strike Highpoint tomorrow night. He comments on their small number, saying it's more of a blessing than a curse as it allows for a covert operation. Ned asks how they get into the keep, and Rodrik says the Whitehills will *let*them in. Namond explains that they will use corpses from Morgryn's Logging Site to dress their soldiers up as Whitehills, who will bring the rest of their men to Highpoint in cages. Hugar says that the Whitehills will know something is afoot if they bring soldiers and Lords, and they need something to throw them off the scent. Everyone looks at Talia, but Rodrik shields her and says she cannot come. Talia protests, saying she can do it, but Rodrik dismisses her again. Talia says she made it out of Ironrath with worse odds and killed a man to do so, and that she'll hang back or leave if she has to, but if they need her present for the plan to work then she will go. Ned says as soon as they're through the gates they can send her back to Timberwatch and that she doesn't need to do anything more. Rodrik tells Talia to promise him that she'll leave as soon as possible, which she does.

Rodrik settles the plan by saying they march tomorrow and kill any man, woman or child bearing the name Whitehill, and his sentiment is echoed as those present call out the Forrester words, "Iron From Ice." Maester Ebbert pushes his way through the crowd and expresses an extreme disapproval of the plan, asking what Torrhen's wife or son ever did to deserve an attack. Ned combats this by listing names of those killed or abducted during the Raid on Stillport, then demands that they seal Ebbert in the cells so he does not inform Torrhen. Ebbert notes how ungrateful the house is after all they've done for him, then admits that maybe he would have informed Torrhen, if only to save lives. He claims his loyalty is to innocence and that his job is to save lives, not allow them to end. Ned dismisses his claims while Hugar apologises for what has to be done, but Ebbert glowers at him and says he will be.

In the courtyard, Rodrik approaches Hugar Greyson who has finished triple checking that they are prepared. Namond Glenmore and Ned join up with the two, the former saying that Highpoint and justice await. Rodrik gives the order for them to leave.

#### Artifice

After Errold and Erik murder Todd, a Whitehill guard, they open up the gates to the rest of their force, Ned included. Ned asks Clint where Torrhen Whitehill is, and Clint says the great hall while begging for his life. Rodrik makes sure Talia is happy to head back, then heads inside with the others.

Inside Highpoint, Ned suggests breaking into groups in case something goes down, which Rodrik agrees to and sends Mundy to cover their backs with the Glenmore men. Hugar asks if Clint could be trusted, which Ned brushes off by saying that Clint was just trying to spare his own life even if it meant betraying the Whitehills. Rodrik spots someone in a chair and believes it to be Torrhen, but when the group charges forth, he turns the chair around to find a dummy with a smiling face crudely drawn on it. Hullen Cooper and Janos Ironsmith slam the doors, trapping Rodrik and company in the great hall. As the rest of the Elite Guard enter through a side gate, Torrhen appears on the balcony above accompanied by Alanna Snow, Randyll Warrick and Greta Whitehill. He gloats about how smoothly the trap went, then explains that it was obvious they'd try an attack when he was less defended. As no Whitehill men were expected to arrive at Highpoint until the army came home from Winterfell, the Forresters' plan came up as suspicious. He notes the lordlings who came with Rodrik, until Ned Thornton interrupts and demands the return of his son, Myles. Torrhen expresses pity, which makes Ned press further about what has happened to 'his' Myles. Torrhen says the boy is unharmed, but states that Myles is not 'Ned's'. Ignoring a warning from the Thornton, Torrhen reveals that Myles is not Ned's son, but his own nephew - the bastard son of his elder brother Karl, and Ned's wife, Isabel. To hide that Isabel was having a bastard, she was hastily rushed into a marriage with Ned, who could not have children of his own due to impotence.

Rodrik silences Torrhen, saying that his group came for a reason, and Torrhen repeats back to him the group's goals - kill him, kidnap his wife and murder his infant son. He says the Whitehills and Forresters could have made a deal, but Rodrik waves it off as a deal did not work with Ludd. Torrhen scoffs at the sentiment, and commands Randyll to retreat to Warrick Bastion. He then tells Greta to flee with their son, Karl, who reluctantly agrees. After they are gone, Torrhen walks down the steps, pushing the idea that he was willing to truce but Rodrik had to make life hard.

Rodrik comments that now Torrhen has sent many of his men away he is outnumbered and will die, but Torrhen merely dismisses this and tells Rodrik that if any of his men want to flee they can.

#### A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Ned is believed to have accepted Torrhen's promise that those who flee can live, but it turns out that he is hunting down Greta Whitehill and her son Karl while they flee.

Cornering them, he commands his cousin to give him her son, under the impression that because Torrhen 'took' his son, he must take Torrhen's for justice. Greta protests and holds out a knife, threatening to harm him if he comes closer, which Ned dismisses - calling the woman Torrhen's 'whore'. This infuriates Greta and she dives forward, stabbing him in the shoulder and shielding her son with her body. Ned renounces Greta as part of his family as Arys enters the hallway, placing himself in front of the Lady. Greta does not want to leave him alone to fight Ned but Arys insists, telling her that her duty is to protect Karl. Greta reluctantly leaves and Ned goads Arys on, calling him nothing more than one of Torrhen's weapons. Arys rejects this philosophy, yelling that he is not Torrhen's weapon, but Greta's shield. The two begin to fight, Ned blocking with the Thornton shield and Arys catching Ned's bastard sword as he swings it. Arys gains the upper hand and knocks Ned to the ground, then prepares to execute him. Before he can do so, however, the Glenmore soldiers appear and one of them hits him in the shoulder with an arrow. Arys pulls the arrow from his body.

Ned states that Arys would not reach him before being shot by the Glenmores, which the guard acknowledges. Ned tells him he can keep his life if he stands aside and leaves Greta and Karl to be captured, but Arys denies the chance of survival and blocks the door with his body - steeling himself and muttering to himself that even in death he will be victorious. The Glenmores loose their bows and Arys collapses against the door, dying, until Ned approaches him - mocking his words - and delivers the finishing blow before turning to look at something.