[3rd POV]
"...What sort of deal?" Ned asked hesitantly, as Lucifer smiled.
"Simple, you have to do a few things for me" Lucifer responded with a calm smile, as the man stared at her, confused.
"What sort of things?" Ned asked, he had never been offered a deal in such a manner, and most of the time said deals were either very upfront about what they wanted, or utterly irritating to even discuss.
"Well, first off, I ask that you begin to support the Nights Watch more than you already have. They are spread thin, are utterly behind in all areas, and are desperate for more men, more food, and more supplies in general" Lucifer stated firstly, as the man stared at her in confusion.
'She wishes for aid for the Watch? Perhaps a relative is a member? But...no, that's not it. She spoke of being a foreigner, and she looks like she could be Dornish' Ned thought with a frown on his face.
"And the others?"
"The second is another simple one. I ask that you utilize the wealth this gives you in order to heal and grow your people. Because quite frankly, It is utterly disappointing to watch what has become of this place, and the lack of progress. The stagnation your people face will only grow worse, and it's only a matter of time before you lose your status, as other Lords from the South attempt to gain control of these beautiful lands" Lucifer said her second desire.
"That is naturally going to happen, my lady. A majority of the wealth this would provide would be used to rebuild the North" Ned responded, agreeing with that one easily. He wondered why she even cared that much, considering she was not of the North.
"Third, you are to cleanse the North of the rot that is spreading from within. House Bolton is a problem, and that vile little boy known as "Ramsey Snow" is the worst of them. And before you say anything, you just need to have spies watch him. You'll get your confirmation of what he and his father are doing, very fast afterwards" Lucifer said, the man frowning in response.
"My lady, that is simply not-" "They continue to practice the art of flaying, Lord Stark. They have a basement underneath the castle, full of the corpses of those they have flayed, including the deceased bodies of several Starks from long past. All you need to do is gain access to the Bolton Lords bedroom, and pull the torch closest to his window, and you'll gain access to it" Lucifer cut him off, the man growing increasingly concerned with how she knew this information.
And more than anything, he was concerned with the information itself. The woman seemed absolutely certain of it, and not only that, the depth of her info was well beyond what a simple lie could be. It was as if it was fact.
And that did not make him pleased, if this was all true.
"...I will look into it, My lady" Ned responded, as Lucifer smiled.
"Good lad. Now, fourth, you are going to use a portion of the wealth you obtain to renovate not only Winterfell, but Winter Town as well. Because quite frankly, your castle is falling apart, and needs to be fixed. It is beautiful, but not for much longer. I already have builders that can do the job, once you have the wealth needed" Lucifer said her fourth want, as the man nodded slowly.
"Another one I can easily accept, as it was another of my own desires"
"Good. And for the fifth, and final ask...it is by far the most important to me, Eddard Stark" Lucifer said, the man stilling slightly as he felt as if he was under threat.
"You are to tell Jon Snow of his true parentage" Lucifer said, dropping the bomb as the man's eyes widened, jumping to his feet as his blade that was sheathed was pulled from it's scabbard, only to stop when it flew into Lucifer's hand.
"Wha-" "I am not a normal human, Ned. Do not take me for a mortal. And I'd suggest you sit down before I punish you, boy" Lucifer said, glaring at him. She was not pleased, especially after she had found out what had been done to Jon by an ignorant Catelyn Stark.
Not pleased at all.
The man paled, fighting the urge to fight back, before sitting down.
"What are you?" Ned asked bluntly, as Lucifer hummed.
"What do you think I am? Think about what I have been asking of you, and then answer the question" Lucifer said, as she summoned a cup of tea, the man stilling as he saw her do it. A small inscription on the side of the cup, akin to that of a small...tree.
Ned stared at her, his eyes widening in realization.
"B-By the Old Gods" Ned said in awe and fear.
"Mmhm, yes that is one of my titles. Amongst the Seven, The Great Other, R'hllor, Balerion. Honestly, this little plane has so many names for me. But I must admit that the Old Gods are my personal favorite. You Starks have been the best worshipers I have ever had" Lucifer said truthfully, a small amused smile on her face as the man looked like he was going to cry.
"Wh-bu-" "Calm yourself, Ned. I'm not going to harm you or your family. Not when you have been so loyal to one of my many aspects. No, I am simply here because one of my personal favorite families is squandering the potential they have. And I would hate to see a child be abused over a lie" Lucifer cut him off, raising her hand.
Ned blinked as he felt a warmth travel through him, as his fear and awe and anxiety began to still, looking at Lucifer as he realized she had helped him.
"And before you even try it, do not kneel, Stark. You may kneel in rituals and before one of my many trees, but not before me personally" Lucifer said, stopping the man before he could.
"...Why have you come now, my lord?" Ned asked, after calming himself for a few moments. Staring into the eyes of Lucifer as he steeled himself, controlling his desire to ask so many questions.
"Because my wife and I wanted a vacation" Lucifer replied with an amused smile.
"A...vacation? And wife?"
"Mmhmm, Alice is my wife, Eddard. My Queen if you will. And yes, a vacation. But at the same time, I had always wanted to come here, to see this place in person. To not look at it from an outside perspective. And my wife and I also desired to help your family, Lord Stark. To stop what would come in the coming years, which would end in the deaths of most of your children, and the fall of many more innocent lives" Lucifer answered, sipping on her tea.
"...Is that all we are to you? Entertainment? A product of pity?" Ned asked, a frown on his face as Lucifer's eyes softened.
"No, Ned. I am quite fond of all beings that hold evil far from them, like you and your family. And no, you are not entertainment, for you are a living breathing human being, and I shall treat you as such. As for pity...I will not deny that I pity parts of your life. Like the lost of your sister, brother, and father. But I do not look down on you for it. I simply pity the fact that you had to go through that, when it was not your fault, nor your families" Lucifer responded with a shake of her head.
"And Jon?"
"He deserves to know the truth, Ned. He deserves to know who his mother was, who his father was. He will not change his view of you, Eddard. You will always be his father, be it through blood or not. And just as you need to tell him, you must tell your wife" Lucifer said, as the man was about to respond, before she raised her hand.
"No, Eddard. I am the Seven, I am the Old Gods, I am all the Gods. But never, not once, have I written such filth as what those who worship my aspect of the Seven, follow. I would never look down upon children that are product of such things. No. You must tell your wife, and you must remind her that she is no longer of the South" Lucifer explained.
"She is an avid worshipper, my lord. I fear that she will not change her ways"
"She does not necessarily need to, Ned. How about this. After you tell her about Jon, we shall have dinner together, and I will reveal myself to her. If she is half the woman I hope she can become, then she will listen, she will learn, and she will seek redemption" Lucifer said, knowing that Catelyn was not too far gone, not yet.
She had a chance for growth. To become the mother that Jon never had.
She just had to listen.
Hearing all of her words, Ned looked down before breathing in deeply, a resolute gleam in his eyes, as he locked eyes with a smiling Lucifer, and spoke.
"Help me, My Lord. Help me make up for the mistakes I have made"
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That's the end of the chapter!
A bit longer to make up for the shorter chapter last time.
Anyways, have a good day!