Fanfic / Promise

Promise is a fanfic set in Game of Thrones. It covers Ned Stark's POV of Robert's Rebellion from when he heard about his brother Brandon's abduction to Ned's return to Winterfell at the end of the war.

Takes place in the same universe as Two And Ten.

This fanfic provides examples of:

• Both Sides Have a Point: Ned's last conversation with Ashara Dayne when he returns Dawn. He killed Ashara's brother Arthur to rescue his sister, and Ashara can't help but defend her brother.
• Character Tics: Jon Arryn clicks his heels whenever he gets nervous.
• Clingy Jealous Girl: Ned went out of his way to invoke this for Catelyn, so she wouldn't go looking for Jon Snow's mother.
• Dissonant Serenity: Roose Bolton's reaction to the Sack of King's Landing is to use a knife to clean his fingernails out of boredom.
• Fantastic Racism: Jon Arryn has some for the Crannogmen, such as Howland Reed.
• Foil: Stannis and Benjen. Both held the fort (Stannis for Storm's End, Benjen for Winterfell) while their elder brothers went off to war. Benjen managed to remain as cheery as ever, while Stannis became cold and bitter due to being abandoned by Robert. Ned worries that Benjen Took a Level in Jerkass while he was gone.
• Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Benjen (foolish) and Ned (responsible). Ned wants Benjen to hold the fort during the war, while Benjen wants to go to the Wall for his role in the Knight of the Laughing Tree.
• Game of Chicken: Ned intimidates the besiegers at Storm's End into surrendering by ordering a cavalry charge, then pulling up when they drop their banners.
• Get Out!: Ned to a serving girl Robert is screwing in the wine cellar.
• Hypocrite: Robert. He speaks a lot about his love for Lyanna, but he Really Gets Around.
• Mirroring Factions: When Ned reaches the besiegers at Storm's End, they look almost as starved and demoralized as the defenders do, thanks to supply lines being cut by the Sack of King's Landing.
• Not So Above It All: Pretty much the reaction of every Southern lord Ned meets when he returns to King's Landing from Dorne.
  "Southern lords sneered at him in his absence, imagining the straight man who was a living reproach for them had finally infringed his moral code."
• Parental Substitute: Ned will become this to Jon Snow. Howland even references it.
  Howland: He's a Stark. He's your son, now.
• Puppet King: Ned suggested having Viserys rule, with Jon Arryn controlling him as Hand of the King. Once that idea went down, Ned understood that Robert intended to wipe out all the Targaryens.
• Rape, Pillage, and Burn: Ned and the Stark/Baratheon forces come upon the Sack of King's Landing while it's in progress.
  Howland: Call it retaliation, then. Gods, we're not listening to the "Rains of Castamere". We're watching this song.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Ned gives one (combined with a What the Hell, Hero?) to Robert.
  Ned: HOW DARE YOU!
  Robert: Oh please! Don't tell me you never fucked a maid!
  Ned: You don't understand, Robert. What are we fighting for? Why did those men die today?
  Robert: We want to overthrow the Mad King and kill this Targaryen bastard named Rhaegar. Westeros will never be the same.
  Ned: We don't fight for the same reason, then. Perhaps we don't take part in the same war. I fight because Aerys destroyed my family and because I want my sister back. My sister, Robert. The girl you were betrothed to, the one you were supposed to cherish. And you spend your nights tumbling kitchen maids?
• Red Oni, Blue Oni:
  • Robert Baratheon (red) and Ned Stark (blue), as in the original series.
  • Ned (red) and Howland Reed (blue). Ned is more passionate and stubborn than the cool-headed, diplomatic Howland.
• Secret-Keeper: Ned kept his silence about the Knight of the Laughing Tree and Benjen's role as accomplice.
• The Squire: A 12-year-old Sandor Clegane is serving as Tywin Lannister's squire.
• Strong Family Resemblance: Ned notes the fact that Jon has the Stark features (dark hair and grey eyes) is a blessing and a curse, because no one will doubt his parentage, though he will carry the mark of being a bastard for the rest of his life.
• War Is Hell: Ned's opinion, particularly after Summerhall.
• Young Future Famous People: Benjen Stark, Stannis Baratheon, Sandor Clegane.
• Younger Than They Look: Thanks to his size, Sandor Clegane looks older than 12. His voice hasn't cracked yet.
• You Remind Me of X: This fanfic gives another reason why Catelyn doesn't like Jon: Ned taking his bastard to raise under his roof reminds her too much of Walder Frey.
• You Should Have Died Instead: How Ned feels about himself; he should have been the one to head to King's Landing demanding justice instead of Brandon.