Highgarden 295 AC.
Cersei.
She hated this place and had done since she had arrived, the roses were far too sure of themselves and far too disrespectful. They should have been on their knees thanking her in gratitude that she had convinced her precious boy to even spend time with their less than golden rose. Instead, they like so many others looked down upon her, upon Joffrey and she once again cursed her father for leaving her alone in this world.
She knew had he been alive that the sheer fear and respect he commanded would, as was rightly so, have been afforded to her also. But ever since he had gone and gotten himself killed by a damn Iron Born pirate she had been left to watch as her position was gradually undermined. That most of that undermining came from her own family only making it that much harder to take.
The little bastard daring to speak such a way to a prince, her uncle calling them out publicly and shaming them so and her aunt daring to come to her rooms to threaten her. She was the queen of the seven kingdoms and yet she'd been powerless to do or say anything about it, she had needed to sit there and listen while a woman married to a damn Frey had looked and spoken down to her.
Well no more, as she dressed, as she readied herself to break her fast and hoped her husband to be too hungover to join her, she resolved to show them she was a lioness too, starting with her fat aunt. She finished her wine, looked at herself in the looking glass and smiled, younger and more beautiful, as if there could be such a thing she thought.
"Mother." she heard Myrcella say happily when she walked into the room, she smiled at her sweet girl and looked over to see her baby boy eating happily.
"Good morning Myrcella, Tommen, is your brother not joining us?" she said and didn't notice the small frown on her daughter's face.
"He's with father, they were shouting." Tommen said while Myrcella shook her head at him.
"Myrcella?" she asked worried about what her fat oaf of a husband may be doing or saying to her precious boy.
Her daughter though didn't get to answer as both Joffrey and Robert chose that moment to walk into the room. She could see her boy was furious and she swore she could see a red mark on his face but she shook her head, even the beast that she was married to would never dare strike her son. As they sat down she looked to Robert and to Joffrey, neither was speaking and her curiosity forced her to ask what had happened, however, it was to Myrcella that Robert spoke to before she could even open her mouth.
"I heard from Ser Richard that you spent some time with the white wolf?" Robert said smiling.
What? Her child had been near that beast, where were her Kingsguard? What was Horpe doing?.
"We did father, Ser Ghost is so fluffy, he's even softer than Ser Pounce." Tommen said and Joffrey snorted only for Robert to glare at him.
"Is that so, well at least one of my children knows how to behave around a wolf, what about you Myrcella did the wolf scare you or threaten you?" Robert said looking to Joffrey again.
"No father, Ghost was most fun he even licked our hands." Myrcella said giggling "And Lady Joy and Ser Jon were most friendly, they bought us peanuts."
"Pen nuts." Tommen said and Myrcella giggled again.
"Ser Jon?" Robert asked looking confused.
"Jon Snow father." Myrcella said and her husband laughed.
Bastards, bastards and beasts, her children were being allowed be close to bastards and beasts, no this could not stand.
"I don't wish you near those beasts anymore, either of you, they are far too dangerous and need to be put down, look what they did to your brother." she said angrily as both her children looked down to their plates.
"You've just heard from their own lips just how friendly the wolf was, if that doesn't show what our fool of a son did more even more clearly then nothing will, it's not the damn wolves that need to be leashed." Robert said and glared at Joffrey yet again.
"Robert, this is no place for this conversation." she said feeling her anger rise.
"Yet you felt the need to have it here anyway, so aye, let's have it then. Myrcella would you like to spend more time with the wolf, would it frighten you to do so?"
"I would father, I wasn't scared." her daughter said and while she felt some pride in the lack of fear, it took her a moment to realize her daughter was actually speaking against her.
"She's far too young to know of what she speaks Robert."
"Is she, she's probably the cleverest person sitting at this table." he said and she saw Myrcella's smile.
"Myrcella, why don't you take Tommen and see if Ser Richard will take you to see the rest of the wolves." Robert said and he glared at her then daring her to speak.
"Really father, thank you." Myrcella said happily as she jumped from her seat and kissed his cheek making him smile more broadly than she'd seen him in many a year.
She waited until both Myrcella and Tommen had left and looked to Joffrey who was still glaring at his father. She took a swallow of the juice to wet her lips, sorry now she'd not brought wine with her, and then she decided to let her husband know the extent of her displeasure.
"You can't allow them to spend their time with those beasts, it's bad enough my children have been spending time with bastards, I'll not have them risked so." she said angrily.
"Risked so, risked so, what risk is there? The only risk those wolves have caused is to our fool of a son and our reputation, a reputation I'm struggling to rehabilitate because of the actions of a spoilt petulant boy."
"That wolf attacked our son." she said rising to her feet.
"And thank the gods he did so, pulling a knife on a girl, the boy's not even man enough to use his fists, well we'll soon see that put right." Robert said confusing her.
"Robert?"
"Our son is to foster in Dragonstone, perhaps some time with Stannis can make a man out of him something we've both clearly failed to do."
"No, no you can't, I'll not stand for it." she said.
"You'll stand, sit, you'll lie fucking down for it If I say so. I'm the king and that… that is my fucking heir, he'll learn to be a man or by the seven he'll find himself with no damn crown to wear."
"Robert, please."
"No, he's fucked up one betrothal I wished for him and forced me to make another, so no, when we leave he'll be traveling to Dragonstone and mark my words both of you, try and go around me on this and I'll fucking send you both there." he said angrily.
She felt her blood began to boil, looking to the table she almost picked up the knife before she felt her mind clear, another betrothal? what the hell did Robert mean by that? who had he betrothed Joffrey to? Surely it wasn't the roses, given how the girl had behaved and how she'd not sat with them it couldn't be Margaery, which then left her wondering who?.
"Who have you betrothed Joffrey too?" she asked.
"Him, you think I can get anyone to take him now after what he did. Ned would have struck me had I suggested it and even Mace Tyrell would have turned me down, betroth him? unless he grows up and proves himself better he'll be lucky to find a wife among Walder Frey's brood."
"Then who?" she asked.
"Myrcella, Myrcella is to be married to Brandon Stark."
She couldn't believe it, he'd given his only daughter, her sweet girl to a heathen Northman, a savage and a second son, she deserved so much better. So furious was she that she never saw them leave, never heard them as they went and it was only once they had that she noticed. Getting up from her seat she stormed down through he corridors, Ser Mandon walking behind in her wake.
Reaching the room she banged on the door and as her aunt opened it she drew her hand back. The slap she aimed never landed, Genna proving far too quick for her, far too fast. Ser Mandon stepped forward but then moved back the wolves walking towards him forcing him to. Cersei though didn't even notice it, all she saw was her hand being held and then being pushed back as she looked at her aunt.
"What are you doing you crazy fucking bitch?" Genna said loudly.
"You, this is all your fault, you brought my children to the joust, you had them sitting with Bastards and Beasts, you." she said angrily as she heard the footsteps.
She looked around, Lord Stark and his youngest son and oldest daughter, Myrcella and Tommen, Lady Margaery, and some other people she didn't know along with those filthy beasts. Myrcella stood looking at her as if she didn't know her and Tommen was hiding behind his sister. Storming off down the corridor to her room she slammed the door behind her.
Picking up the wine bottle she poured herself a glass and drank it quickly before sitting down and pouring another. They had embarrassed her once again, shamed her in front of people, and were plotting to take her children away from her. She'd not allow it, she'd find some way to stop it she thought as she refilled her glass again.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Robb.
After the joust he had been allowed to miss the feast, instead, he, Wynafred, Lord Wyman, and Ser Wylis had a far quieter dinner, one he found he enjoyed even more than the feasts. He did love the pageantry, the dishes too if he was honest and the dancing afterward even more so. But it was not just the company that made this one that much more special, it was what he found out once he sat down and the meal began.
"Your father came to speak to us Robb." Lord Wyman said and he found himself looking to Wynafred her expression matching his own.
"He did my lord?"
"Aye, he came to speak of a match, between you and my granddaughter."
"What was your answer grandfather?" Wynafred asked eagerly.
"Impatient are you daughter, let your grandfather speak." Ser Wylis said with a chuckle.
"Sorry, father." she said.
"Would a match please you granddaughter?" Lord Wyman asked and Robb looked to each of them, Lord Wyman's face was as unreadable as ever making him nervous while Wynafred's smile made him less so.
"It would grandfather, it would please me greatly."
"And you Robb?" Lord Wyman asked catching him by surprise as he was looking at Wynafred's smiling face.
"It would my Lord, greatly also." he said and Lord Wyman just sat there his two hands resting on his chin as he looked at them both, Robb's heart beating faster and faster as the moments went on.
"Grandfather?" Wynafred said a little annoyed.
"What? can't an old man have some fun." Lord Wyman said laughing "Both I and your father are also greatly pleased by this match, Robb we would be honored to have you as part of our family."
He felt happier than he had ever known, something that Wynafred too was obviously feeling given the hug she gave her grandfather and then her father.
"You've both behaved most honorably, see to it that it continues and then when you are of age we'll be happy to see you wed." he heard Ser Wylis say.
For the rest of the meal when he wasn't looking at Wynafred he was speaking to her father or to her grandfather, talking on the future and he felt himself looking forward to it immensely. They would be wed when he was five and ten and while it felt so very far away, he knew it could have been so much worse. His own father had been nine and ten and so three years felt so much easier to endure than seven.
He was allowed to escort Wynafred to her room and he held her hand as he did so, her father's guards walking behind him making sure he didn't overstep his bounds. When he reached the door he wanted nothing more than to kiss her and to hold her in his arms but he knew he wouldn't be allowed, and so he took her hand in his instead.
"I shall see you on the morrow my betrothed." he said kissing her hand.
"On the morrow my betrothed." she aid smiling back as she walked into her room.
As he was heading back to his room he saw him in the distance and wondered where his brother was going at this hour. Even though he was with his guards, he felt this was perhaps the best chance he would get to pay him back for the prank he had pulled on him. He had thought long and hard about what to do and how to get him back and found his options to be limited.
Being in someone else's keep he couldn't put dung in his mattress or do most of what he wished, he both needed to keep up appearances and couldn't risk doing something that could be construed as disrespectful. It had left him with no real idea of how to pay him back, even what he planned would pale in comparison with Jon's own prank, but it would do for now he felt.
Following at a discreet distance, he was led through an area of the grounds he knew not, only Ghost in the distance being enough to show him where to go. Through gaps in hedges and entrances that were hidden, he finally found himself at a secluded area where they stopped. Laying down on the grass he crawled closer and saw Jon standing with two men, his guard Ser Daeron and the other man who was a complete surprise to him, as he wondered why Jon was meeting with Ser Barristan Selmy.
"I hope you don't feel I stole your moment your grace." Ser Barristan said and Robb looked on trying to see where the king was.
"Not at all Ser, you managed to do what I could not, my betrothed was most pleased." he heard Jon say and he gasped.
"I take it you'd like this back." Barristan said handing his brother something.
"Aye, I thank you Ser, it's most precious to me."
"I had thought so, I had hoped to face you, Arthur."
"Like old times Barristan, I don't think the realm is ready for my reappearance just yet." Ser Daeron said with a chuckle.
"No not yet Arthur, but soon I hope your grace? "Barristan asked Jon
Arthur, your grace, betrothed? What was going on here? He felt lost, confused as if everyone knew something he did not. His brother a king? How? How was Jon a king, what where they talking about?.
"I hope so too, we can't hide the dragons for much longer, Rhaenix is almost ready to fly with me and given her size I wonder where we will be able to keep her as soon she'll not fit the cave." Jon said.
Dragons, what did he mean by dragons? this made no sense he thought as he crawled even closer.
"She is really that big?" Barristan asked.
"Aye Barristan, you should see her, I'd not have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself." Ser Daeron said.
"Rhaegar knew didn't he?" Barristan said.
"My father knew as did my mother Ser Barristan." Jon said before he stopped and looked his way.
Robb felt it then, the paw on his back, the white wolf's head close to his own, he smelt the breath and within a moment Ser Daeron was standing beside Ghost and he was looking up at his brother, or the boy he had thought was his brother.
"It seems we have much we must talk on, Ghost to me." Jon said and Robb felt the wolf's weight lift off his back.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Jon.
He had left the feast early, not because he wasn't enjoying himself as he had been, but he had arranged to meet with Ser Barristan alone. Well as alone as he ever was these days, though he knew the man would wish to meet with Arthur too. He had owed him for what he did in the joust and that it was he who had suggested it to him was something that endeared the man to him even more.
" That favor, I take it that it belongs to your betrothed?" Barristan said as they walked from the tiltyard.
" It does." he said looking back to the stands to see her looking at him, he smiled to reassure her and because he found it was his usual response when she looked at him that way.
" Perhaps I could borrow it." Barristan asked and he looked at him before figuring out why he'd ask for it.
" I thank you Ser." he said smiling as he handed him the favor.
So after spending time with Margaery, just seeing her with the garland on her head was enough to make him vow to crown her himself one day, and after taking Joy back to her room he had headed out to speak to the knight. Things had gone well until he felt the tingle at the back of his head, until he reached out, and then he saw what it was or more precisely who, that Ghost was warning him about.
"Ser Arthur, it seems we have a visitor, my cousin has come to see us." he said nodding to where Ghost was.
Arthur rushed and he and Ser Barristan both walked a little more slowly to where Ghost had Robb pinned down. He looked down at his cousin and leaned in to Ser Barristan to whisper to him.
"Perhaps while I talk to my cousin you and Arthur can speak?" he said.
"I'd like that, but you'll be alright on your own?"
"I will, don't go far but this is a conversation that was always coming." he said his voice still barely able to be heard thought the knight understood him well enough.
After Ghost let Robb up he motioned for him to follow and they walked back into the garden, down further in and he took a seat and waited for his cousin to begin.
"Jon, what's going on, Ser Barristan he called you a king, I heard..dragons, Jon?"
"I had wished to tell you this, though had hoped it would be later. Not that I was hiding it from you, no, wait, that's not entirely true, but not because I didn't trust you."
"Hiding? Hiding what?"
"Ned Stark isn't my father, I'm the trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen." he said and Robb looked at him like he was the mad king.
"What, you can't, father, you're not my brother?"
"I am your brother, I've always been your brother and if you wish I'll be your brother still."
"But Rhaegar, aunt Lyanna, this makes no sense."
He told him the tale then almost shocking himself with how easily it rolled off his lips, with Sansa, with Margaery even it had been almost hard to tell them, yet with Robb, it was far easier. He wasn't really certain why that was, did he care less what his brother thought? He didn't think so and so he wondered if it was just that he was now more sure of who he was, that it perhaps felt easier because of that.
When he was finished he waited for his brother to speak, Robb was pacing around looking at him and then biting his tongue and pacing some more. The moments seemed to stretch on and on, the silence was almost deafening and yet his brother said nothing until finally, he turned to look at him.
"You are the rightful heir?"
"I am."
"You're going for the throne?" Robb said.
"I am."
"I don't, Jon I don't understand this, father, what he told us, what everyone knows."
"Is a lie Robb. For your father it was a way to protect me, you know what happened to my brother, to my sister and their mother?" he asked.
"I, they were killed." Robb said.
"They were butchered, Elia was raped Robb, Aegon was a babe and they threw him so hard against a wall that it… that he… my sister, my sister was three Namedays old, do you know what they did to her?" he said his anger rising.
"Jon, I."
"Half a hundred times she was stabbed Robb, half a hundred, what would you do to the men who did that to Arya, to Sansa, what if Bran had been killed?"
"But the men, who were they?"
"The men are dead, the people who profited by the deaths, the people who sat by and did nothing about them are not. Do you know what the king called my brother and sister when they were presented to him, Dragonspawn."
"I didn't know that." Robb said softly.
"There are many things you don't, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but now you know, I am the rightful heir, the rightful king and I will take my families throne back."
"What am I supposed to do Jon, bend my knee? Tell you I'm with you?" Robb asked confused.
"For now, nothing. I'm asking you for nothing, you are my brother, true we're cousins but you are my brother, so whatever that means to you that's what I ask of you."
"Who else Jon, who else knows?"
"No, that you don't get to know Robb, you knowing of me is a risk to me and that I can allow, I'll not risk anyone else."
"You think I'd tell? That I'd speak on this?" Robb said angrily.
"I think you knowing puts my life at risk and that's my decision to make, but I'm well used to my life being at risk, twice people have tried to kill me. I lost a good man to one of the attacks but I'm ready for them, should they come for me then I'm ready."
"You really think I'd speak up on this?"
"I don't know Robb, you're angry, confused. I don't know what you'll do with that, if you're asking me am I willing to risk my life that you won't then I say yes, it's my life and it's mine to risk."
"My father?" Robb asked.
"I just told you I'd not tell."
"Please Jon, give me something, can I speak to my father on this?"
"Aye."
"Thank you." Robb said as he began to walk away "You are my brother, Jon, now and always."
"Now and always." he said back as he watched Robb leave.
He had wished to tell him more, to explain it all to him, but he wasn't ready for it, not for all of it, unlike with Sansa there was still a distance between he and his brother. Should he know too much he was risking far too many lives, so it was better this way until his brother spoke to his uncle anyway. When Barristan and Arthur came back he spoke to them and despite their protestations, he felt he was in the right with this.
Robb wouldn't speak out, not yet, not until he spoke to his father and so after bidding Barristan a good night he walked to his uncle's room and told him what had happened.
"How much does he know?"
"He knows who I am and that I intend to go for the throne, that's it."
"His mother?" his uncle asked.
"No."
"I'll speak to him, tell him I'm supporting you, tell him my reasons why."
"Don't tell him of the other's yet uncle, give him time to come to terms with it all. In a few moons, we can speak to him again."
"Aye. How are you feeling?" his uncle asked concernedly.
"Like I should have pulled him aside and spoken to him sooner."
"Perhaps or perhaps it's better it was this way, go sleep, you have a big day on the morrow."
"Aye, good night uncle."
"Good night Jon.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Brienne.
She was a little put out that she was not allowed to fight in the duels, but her age prohibited her from doing so. However she was surprised to find the note under her door when she got ready to break her fast that morning. Opening it she wondered why he wished to meet her but thought no more of it as she went to eat. She put off the strange atmosphere to people preparing for the duels, she knew that Robb and Cregan had not competed and Loras seemed almost willing them to start.
Jon though wasn't there and as she looked around she could see his sisters, Joy, and Margaery seemed a little concerned by it. Something which she was more than happy to see soon faded when he came strolling in with Ser Walder later on, taking his seat he immediately began to jape, and soon the rest of the morning's tenseness was gone. It was later as they were on her way to the tents that Ser Walder pulled her aside.
"You got my note?" he asked.
"I did."
"Given the coin I won I find myself in a much different position, I can now afford to kit out and manage a squire, something I was not able to beforehand."
"That is good is it not?" she said not sure where he was going with this.
"It is, I wish you to squire for me." he said and she looked at him in shock.
"Me?" she asked.
"Aye."
"But I'm a girl." she said and she was initially annoyed when he laughed before she realized it wasn't directed at her, but at what she had said.
"I can see that, I'm of the North, Brienne, I've known lady warriors, seen them. I wish you to be my squire, what say you?"
"I would be honored Ser Walder." she said going down on one knee.
"Good, we shall start on the morrow, you already know most of the duties already. I will arm and armor you when I judge you ready and in time you may earn a knighthood."
"But I'm a girl." she said and he laughed again.
"I did hear you the first time." he said and this time she laughed too.
"I thank you Ser Walder." she said and he nodded.
As they turned to walk to the tents she saw Lady Olenna and her two giant guards walking towards them, the closer they got the more their size became apparent.
"My grandson is in the tent with Jon, Ser Walder?"
"He is my lady." Ser Walder said.
"Left, Right, you two wait outside." Olenna said as they reached the tent.
She too waited outside and standing with Walder and the two giant guards, she imagined to any who passed that all four of them must cut imposing figures.
"Left and Right?" Walder asked.
"I'm Erryk, he's Arryk" one of the twins said and Brienne looked to the other.
"Walder, this is Brienne." Walder said motioning to her.
"Aye, we saw you both in the melee, you did well my lady until you were distracted." Arryk said.
"Thank you, though it was Ser Walder who took the day." she said smiling.
"Ser Walder the Tall." Erryk said and Walder looked at him strangely.
"What makes you say that?" Walder asked.
"I meant no offense Ser, it's just what some of the smallfolk have been calling you." Erryk said.
"After Ser Duncan?" Brienne asked and Erryk nodded.
"That could be said about any of us." Arryk said with a chuckle and she couldn't help but laugh.
"My father has a shield that once belonged to Ser Duncan, though how it came to be in Evenfall I do not know." Brienne said.
"A green shooting star above an elm tree at sunset?" Arryk asked.
"Aye, that's the one" Brienne said and watched as the twins looked to each other.
"Just like the one mother has." Erryk said.
Before they could speak anymore though Lady Olenna walked outside and so after saying their goodbyes to them, Erryk and Arryk as she felt foolish thinking of them as Left and Right, both of the twins nodded and left them alone. She looked to Walder who seemed to be lost in thought and she felt something at the back of her mind, turning to the knight she asked him what he thought about the shield.
"Strange is it not we both possess a shield that once belonged to Ser Duncan?"
"Ser Duncan traveled extensively, he and Prince Aegon visited many places throughout the realm, they even visited Winterfell and the North. While it may not seem it, the world is not that large, and should you get the chance to do so then travel is a good way to see that proved true."
"Do you intend to travel Ser Walder?"
"I already am Brienne, my path has brought me from the North to the West and now the South, maybe I shall go east one day." he said and she found herself thinking that over, it would be nice to travel she thought.
It was almost time for the duels and when Jon, Loras, and Cregan walked from the tent she moved with Ser Walder as they walked to check out the lists. Just like the tourney in King's Landing, this would end with a melee, though given the number of people here it would be far larger. Three rounds of duels and then a melee of over two and thirty people and she once again felt annoyed she'd not be competing.
As they walked to the yard they were joined by other young squires and pages, some were taking part, some just looking on in envy and she found her own excitement rising.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Olenna.
She arranged the meeting with Littlefinger for before she broke her fast, not wishing him to infringe on too much of her day. Sitting in her solar she thought on what she was going to say to him, after what he had done with her granddaughter she had almost gone to Jon and demanded he allow them to deal with him now. Though that was her anger talking and if Jon could hold his own in then so could she.
That he thought he could manipulate them with a made-up letter, that the prince was capable of writing wasn't even something she was certain off, but even was he, there was no way he'd written this. She even doubted the signature on the end of the page was the prince's or had he actually signed it then he had not known what it was he was putting his name too.
Holding it in her hands she smirked, Jon hadn't even bothered to read it so little did he care about it, and that convinced her even more that he knew as she did, that it was Littlefinger's hands that were all over the letter.
My dearest Margaery,
I cannot begin to apologize enough for the events of this morning and for the harsh words that I spoke to you later on. I was so filled with worry and with concern for your safety that I fear my actions may have seemed to be something they were not. Seeing those wolves I found myself overwhelmed with thoughts of what they could do to you and because of this I acted most rashly.
Later in the Grand Hall, I saw myself accused of things I do not remember doing, of things I don't remember saying. My father had refused to allow me to stand up for myself and then when I heard what you said, how you had misinterpreted things and so I let my anger cloud my judgment.
In trying to protect you, my lady, it seems I have instead caused you great offense and I hope you can and do accept this sincere apology. I look forward to the opportunity to explain this to you in person, though I understand if you feel you need some time before you'll allow my presence.
Ever Hopeful,
Joffrey Baratheon, Crown prince of the Seven Kingdoms.
That Littlefinger would think that anyone could expect such a letter to be written by that boy was a testament to his stupidity. That he thought that her granddaughter not only would but that she would also keep the said letter to herself proved it even more. Placing the letter back in the drawer she waited and found to her relief that she didn't need to wait too long.
"My lady, I'm glad you've called for me." he said his ever-present smirk already annoying her as he walked to her desk, Left walking slowly behind him.
"Are you indeed?"
"Certainly my lady, perhaps it's best if we speak in private?"
"No my lord it is not, I find myself having no wish to speak to you in private and barely a wish to speak to you at all." she said raising her voice slightly.
"Forgive me my lady, but have I offended you in some way?" he asked as if he cared that he had.
"Your very presence offends me, you think I'd not hear of that little stunt you pulled with my granddaughter."
"My lady you have me at a loss." he said with a mock confused look on his face.
"I doubt that. Those things you said to my granddaughter about the joust, you think I'd not hear of them?"
"My lady, I was just offering my concern especially with the youth of Lady Margaery's friend."
"Friend?" she asked shaking her head.
"Jon Snow my lady."
"You really are a fool Baelish, you think I called you hear to discuss a bastard, I'm speaking to you on mentioning my grandson."
"My lady?" he said once again acting confused.
"Don't give me that, you bringing up how dangerous a tourney was knowing full well what happened to Willas, knowing full well it would hurt my granddaughter to have you do so."
"My lady there has been a misunderstanding." he said his voice rising a pitch.
"Left." she said and her guard moved forward before reaching out his hand which he then placed it on Littlefinger's shoulder.
"Well let me be clear on this Lord Baelish. I do not appreciate someone harming my family either in words or in deeds, had you done the latter." she paused as she nodded to Left who began to squeeze the man's shoulder hard.
"My lady, please." he said his pain clear.
"Remember this well my lord, you may move in the corridors of power, but you are a minor lord from a minor house. How many men can you call upon Lord Baelish, do you think there is a man in your service who is of a match to one in mine?" she said nodding to Left who took his hand from Littelfinger's shoulder.
"My lady, forgive me if I caused offense, it was not my intent I swear it." Littlefinger said reaching his own hand to his shoulder now.
"See to it that you do not again, as for the prince, for now, my answer is no, we do not wish to be joined to that boy, we will not bring our coin to bear, for now."
"For now?" he asked.
"For now, let us see if the boy grows up some, and then we may speak again."
"My lady." he said with a small bow as he rose and walked from the room.
She nodded to Left who walked out and then she took a sip of the juice she had on her desk, it was far more blunt and to the point. than she would normally go, but the intent would work. He'd think them upset over Willas and not Jon, think them potentially an ally and especially think her as far less formidable than she was. A man like Littlefinger assumed those who resorted to violence to be less clever than he, he didn't understand that violence was necessary too.
Highgarden 295 AC.
The Squires Duels .
Cregan.
He was nervous as he stepped out, up to now the biggest crowd of people he'd ever been in front of was at Casterly Rock when he and Jon, Loras, or Brienne would spar. But compared to this that was like a quiet day. He could feel the shaking in his hands and hoped he'd not do something embarrassing like drop the tourney sword or anything like that.
His opponent was a lad from the Vale a young man squired to Ser Marwyn Belmore called Daveth and as Cregan looked to him he could see the boy was as nervous as he. They stood in the middle of the yard, awaited the signal, and as soon as it came they began. Very quickly he felt his nerves dissipate, swinging the sword forcing his concentration to be on that instead of the crowd around him, just like his uncle had said it would.
He won the first point after a series of strikes that Daveth parried, changing up his style he confused the boy and when he went to parry what he thought would be an orthodox strike, Cregan hit him with an unorthodox one catching him by surprise. His second point came with a thrust but at the cost of a point against him as he was countered before he moved back, and his third and fourth were far more simple as the boy seemed to tire.
"The day is yours." Daveth said as the boy caught him across the side while Cregan hit his fifth strike against the boy's shoulder.
"You fought well." Cregan said and the boy smiled as the herald announced his win and they both walked to the back together.
No sooner had they walked through when he saw the boy frown as a group of older lads walked over towards them. There were four of them and it was obvious the boys knew Daveth and he, them, given how he reacted to them. Before they could come close though Jon and Loras arrived and he saw the oldest of the boys, a blond-haired lad with blue eyes glare at them before walking away.
"You did well Cregan." Loras said making him smile.
"I got lucky, on another day it could have been Daveth's." he said and the lad smiled at them and bid them goodbye.
"We now get to see Loras's favorite activity in the whole world." Jon said confusing him for a second "Beating up Florents."
"Aye, now if you'll both excuse I shan't be long." Loras said with a laugh as he walked out to the yard.
Cregan looked at the boy he was facing, he had Loras beat on size and most probably strength and to him it looked as if his friend may face some problems. Jon though seemed unconcerned as if he knew the match was a foregone concussion, and it was he who was proved right. Loras not only demolished the Florent, who Jon told him was part of Stannis's party, but he threw in some blows that seemed to be painful also.
"Why doesn't he like Florents?" he asked as he saw Robb arrive.
"They think they should be running the Reach and aren't afraid to shout it out loud to any who will listen, they also like to disparage Loras and his family at every opportunity. So he takes it out on them where he can, that lad is lucky this isn't a joust." Jon said and he nodded.
"Robb, who are you facing?" he asked when his cousin reached them.
"A Brax squire." Robb said.
"Watch out for your blind side, and keep your sword firm in your hand." Jon said and Robb nodded.
"Who'd you get?" Robb asked.
"Ser Daemon's squire." Jon said and as Loras came back they stood and watched two more lads head out before Jon began to jape at their friend's expense "All hail the conquering hero."
"Fuck off." Loras said smirking.
"That last one must have hurt him." Cregan said.
"Good." Loras said.
When Robb went out they wished him good luck and he found himself eager to watch his cousin fight. They had talked briefly about each other and Robb seemed to believe it when he told him that he had no wish for Winterfell, but he knew that it would always be there at the back of his mind. So he had resolved to show him by his actions that he was no threat to him or his family.
Jon's advice was sound and Robb won, though it was closer than it should have been at five points to three and he assumed some of that was down to nerves. When Jon went out he saw the boy he faced was using a spear and while he had faced one himself and knew what you were supposed to do, he always had trouble with them.
"Watch this." Loras said as he and Robb looked on.
Jon stood with his thin blade and with a dagger in his hand, the dagger was also thin but much longer than a normal knife and a close match to the one he carried always. As the boy thrust with his spear, Jon blocked it with the sword, he then followed through pinning it to the ground and spun so she was now holding the knife to the boy's throat. They heard him yield all the way back here and he smiled when Jon walked back towards them.
"He's gotten better." Robb said.
"Aye, you remember that with Meera? "Loras said and Robb nodded.
The three of them walked back to the tents as Jon stayed to watch more fights and to also see Joy's cousin's fight. Once there they grabbed some water as they waited for the second round, and he found himself hoping all four would make it to the melee, or if not that he'd at least get to face one of them in the duels themselves. Their spars were always competitive but he knew this was different, and he could feel his excitement rise at the thoughts of competing against them properly.
Robb.
He was out of sorts, he knew it and it had almost cost him in his first fight, the revelations of the night before still weighed heavily on his mind and his morning's conversation with his father hadn't helped. He knew now that not only was Jon going for the throne but that his father would back him, given his connection with the West he assumed Lord Jaime would too.
Jon would be a good king and given both the one on the throne, though really apart from drinking and behaving terribly with women he wasn't sure he thought Robert a bad man. He could see however why Jon did and the idea of what he had said disgusted him, to Robb though it seemed the realm was at peace and so why should they fight a war to unseat the king. His son on the other hand, well yes him they couldn't allow sit the throne and so he had asked his father why.
" You know the pool by the heart tree in Winterfell's godswood?" his father said.
" Aye."
" On the surface it looks calm and placid does it not?"
" It does."
" Yet underneath it, life is going on, life that we don't see, that is the realm, Robb. Winterfell is the pool and all seems well, but beneath it, the people suffer."
" I don't understand father."
" You know the tourney Jon won in King's Landing, did you hear what he did with the prize money?"
" No."
" 5,000 gold dragons he won and he and Lady Margaery used it and coin that her family added to it to feed the hungry, to set up things so people who were going without now had food in their bellies"
" What has that got to do with him going for the throne?"
"As lord i s it not my responsibility to ensure our people are fed?"
" It is." Robb said.
" Then was it not the kings also? I loved Robert, he was my brother by choice but he was never meant to sit the throne, what you see here is how he is. He doesn't rule Robb he enjoys being a king and that's something very different."
As he stepped out to face his second opponent he tried not to think on it, his father had told him that Sansa knew and he felt put out by that, though he understood that Jon's relationship with his sister was stronger than their own. He had spoken to her only briefly and what she had said had probably put it even more clearly into perspective, even if he still wasn't fully behind his brother yet.
" You know of Jon?"
" Aye?"
" And what do you think?" he asked her.
" When the snow's fall and the white wind's blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." Sansa said smiling.
He stood facing the young lad from the Stormland's with his sword ready and he thought more on it, Jon was pack, that much was clear and so he would support him, he knew that deep down and it was becoming clearer to him in his mind also. His doubts he put down to feeling upset that he had learned how he had and that Jon hadn't come to tell him, though he was starting to understand why that was.
"You ready boy." the larger lad said and he nodded as they began.
The other boy was fast and technically he was almost if not more sound than he, Robb found his strikes being countered, found himself being forced back and when he lost the first point the got annoyed with himself.
" Lost in your dreams boy, lost in your dreams is when the fight happens, lost in your dreams is when you fall, do you want to be a dead boy?"
Robb smirked as he moved forward, there is only one god he thought and the only thing we say to him is not today. He moved swiftly, his strikes coming in at angles that caught the other lad unawares. The first strike catching his shoulder, the second his arm as he turned, the third the top of his leg. As he backed away from a retaliatory strike he came in again and with a thrust and then a side swipe it was done.
He walked back to the others and saw the smile on his brother's face, on Cregan's and he couldn't keep his own away.
"You did well." Cregan said simply as was his style.
"Well, that was amazing, you moved so fast, I think we may have some trouble with this one Jon." Loras said and slapped him in congratulations on the shoulder.
"Aye, a Braavosi swordsman in our very midst." Jon said smiling.
As Cregan and Loras readied themselves he walked over to is brother and leaned in to whisper in his ear.
"My blade is yours, my king, now and always."
Loras .
While he had enjoyed beating the Florent and also the lad from the Riverland's it was this opponent he'd enjoy most of all. Lancel was an enigma to him, to Jon too he knew. They had done their best to befriend him and at times it had seemed as if it worked, and then almost every single time he went away with his father or came back from anywhere, it was as if they needed to start from scratch yet again.
Why? he didn't know and it had gotten tiring after the first few times and so he had stopped even trying, Jon still did but he felt his friend was wasting his time. Unlike Martyn and Willem or Walder and Tion, the older Lannister just seemed to have something against them. What it was he wasn't sure, he had thought at first it was Jon, but the more he thought about it the more it was clear that it wasn't, or at least it wasn't just that.
"Ready to be put in your place flower?" Lancel said arrogantly.
"Ready to hear a cat meow, Lancel." he said smirking back.
He enjoyed seeing the smirk leave Lancel's face and was ready for the angry strike that Lancel aimed at him. Loras had learned from Jon and Jaime not to show off and he normally wouldn't but facing Lancel he couldn't resist it. He began to spin his blade and began to be ever more over-elaborate in his movements, the first hit he got came with almost a dance towards the other boy.
The second came after he nonchalantly parried some of Lancel's blows almost feigning boredom until he caught him on the shoulder. He was thinking of what he'd do for the next when the strike to his side winded him and even though he couldn't see it, he knew that both Jaime and Jon were looking angrily at him. So he soon took it far more seriously, the next strike he had to work for as Lancel was both more ready and taking confidence from his own hit.
He did catch him on the thigh though and as he moved back he caught Lancel once again on the shoulder he'd hit earlier, though he was caught on the elbow with a counter and felt the shock of the blow run down his arm. The last strike was pure luck, Lancel capitalized on his arm not being fully recovered and amongst his parries of the boys' blows, he caught him with a riposte.
"It seems the day is mine." he said and Lancel just mumbled as he walked to the back.
When he himself reached it he was congratulated by Robb and Cregan enthusiastically, though by Jon less so and he nodded knowing the reason, even if it was not only that which had his friend so annoyed. Tion, Martyn, and Willem had competed in the duels, and while Martyn had beaten his two opponents both Willem and Tion had fallen to theirs.
While alone this wouldn't have been enough to raise Jon's ire. and while he'd given them all advice for each of their matches, it was the boy who'd beaten Tion that Jon was waiting for. Luck can be fortuitous or it can be terrible, for Harrold Hardyng he felt it to be the latter, whether he knew of Jon's connection to Tion or he was just being his usual self Loras didn't know.
But he had hurt the boy, not badly, but enough to have Jon almost rushing out to the field, and then he'd had the bad, no the terrible luck of being drawn against Jon in the final round. As he saw his friend pace, he could see that Harrold would be in for a painful lesson of his own very soon. Jon didn't even bother to speak to any of them other than Martyn, and the smile on the younger boy's face should have been warning enough.
"Jon go easy." he whispered and Jon just smiled as he walked out with Harrold following just a few moments later.
Jon.
Anger was not a good thing to bring to bear and he knew that, but seeing Tion hurt, seeing the tears in his eyes and knowing he'd have to go and speak to Genna later, Jon was furious. That it was Hardyng, that it was no doubt the fool's attempt at retribution towards him made the guilt feel even worse for him. So as he stood there facing the boy he knew he was going to hurt him.
He closed his eyes and reached out for Ghost, soon finding the wolf in the crowd resting beside his siblings while looking out on the field. He let the fire inside cool, felt the flames withdraw, and when he opened his eyes again the fury he felt now was very much different. It was cold, it was calculating, and it would prove to be very painful for Harrold Hardyng.
He allowed the boy to move forward and he gave him the first few strikes, he parried them weakly and drew him in even closer and then he pounced. The first blow took him hard in the shoulder, exactly where he had hit Tion, the second was to his left arm, allowing for the third and fourth to hit the same shoulder again. The last was on the wrist and whether he had broken it or not he didn't know, but the cry of pain from Harrold seemed to suggest he had done so.
As his sword fell to the ground as he held his injured wrist and looked up at him, Jon moved in close enough so he could hear his whisper and so it would look to all as if he was worried about the boy.
"You ever even think of harming anyone I care for, even if only for the briefest moment and this will be the least pain you'll ever know, you understand." he said and Harrold just looked at him silently "I said do you understand?"
"Aye."
"Good now smile for the crowd Harrold." he said as he turned and picked up the boy's sword and they walked to the back.
He could see the shocked looks on Robb's and Cregan's face, the almost resigned look on Loras's, and yet it was the smile on Martyn's that he concentrated on. Leaning in close to the boy who was to face his own final opponent in a few moments he whispered in his ear.
"Remember what I told you?"
"Aye, don't stop moving, in and out as fast as I can." Martyn said.
"Aye, good fortune Martyn."
"I thank you Jon."
The boy, in the end, didn't need it, Martyn was the best swordsman amongst Joy's cousins. Willem he felt would favor the lance and Walder was still growing awkwardly which made his hand and eye coordination a little off at times. Tion was good but prone to slacking, Martyn, however, took to his lessons well and would be very good in the years to come.
He won five to two and when he came back he seemed overly excited about the melee that was coming up after lunch, Jon making him promise to stay close to him during it. While the other's ate he sat at the back of the tent with his eyes closed, he was warged into a small mouse and he scurried through the stands eager to pick up any talk he could.
In the end, he could pick up none and so he opened his eyes and readied for the melee, they had agreed to try and stay close, not to work as a team as such but more to ensure no one got hurt. If it came to it they'd face each other and he wouldn't be surprised if one or other challenged him or the others also, he grabbed some water drank it down and they got ready for the melee.
The Squire's Melee
Sansa.
She looked out worriedly as the boys entered the arena, there were so many and she'd seen in the other melee a few days ago just how dangerous they could be. In front of her Arya, Lyanna and Joy chattered on excitedly, all three girls seeming to get along well, with Joy and Arya competing to see who could be Jon's biggest cheerleader. A role that Sansa knew neither of them could truly win as she looked up to see Margaery sitting with her family.
She had watched as Jon hurt the boy from the Vale, the blond-haired lad who had hurt Tion, hearing Joy's laughs when he did so was a little disturbing but then it was her cousin that he'd hurt. For Sansa though it had been a mixture of relief that Jon himself hadn't been hurt, and worry as she'd not seen him so angry before. As the herald stood up though she found herself praying that those she knew and cared about would be unharmed.
"Your graces, my Lords and Ladies, I give you the Squire's Melee." the herald said loudly.
She looked on and soon found it hard to tell who was who, there were far too many out there and she couldn't pick anyone out, a lad she had thought to be Robb turned out to be someone else. Leaning forward she asked Arya and Joy where Jon was, sure that if she couldn't find him they would.
"He's over there with Martyn." Joy said pointing to the edge of the field.
She saw her brother then, Martyn beside him as they faced off against two boys, the swords of the others almost seeming to be moving slowly compared to the blur of Jon's. When she saw him move in and trip the boy, she like the three girls in front of her cheered loudly, she then saw him point his sword to the boy's neck and when he yielded Jon turned to watch Martyn fight.
"Martyn is good." Joy said excitedly.
"He's your cousin right? Arya asked.
"He is, can you see what Jon is doing?" Joy said smiling
Sansa didn't need to hear the answer as she could see it clearly, while Jon wasn't interfering in Martyn's fight he was watching over him and when Martyn made the other boy yield she watched as he and Jon moved out into the crowd. Unable once again to make out who was who and embarrassed to ask Arya and Joy once again, even she could see clearly that they were far more sure of it than her, Sansa instead closed her eyes and reached out to Fang. As she did so something strange happened, she felt the presence of something else, a thread asking her to pull on it.
She couldn't resist and so she followed it and found another door, this one was closed but as she got closer it opened and soon she felt herself flying. The bird was flying over the arena and she felt that it was small and swift, looking down on the duels she flew a little closer and was able to pinpoint everything, she could see everyone and clearly recognize them all.
She opened her eyes and smiled as she looked up to see the bird flying there, it was small and brown and so she closed her eyes and went looking for the door once again, finding it even easier this time. It was incredible to her, she had thought only Fang was to be hers, that she could warg into her wolf and that would be it. Now it seemed she wasn't just a wolf, she was also a little bird too.
Jon.
As the field thinned he found his eyes everywhere and nowhere, he was both beating squires and watching out for those he cared about and he felt something was going to give. As he heard Martyn yield he almost got hit hard in the head, so concentrated was he on making sure Martyn was unhurt that he'd forgotten about ensuring he was too. He moved fast then, using his sword, his dagger and finally his legs as he swept the boy's feet from under him.
"Yield?"
"Aye." the boy said and he moved on.
There were less than half the field now and he was surprised to see that Cregan was the only one of the four who remained. Loras and Robb he had no idea about, Were they hurt? Who had beaten them? He moved towards Cregan and saw him faced with two boys from the Vale, one he knew was Mychel Redfort while the other he knew not.
By the time he got to Cregan he too had been beaten and it was now down to less than ten, both boys from the Vale looked to him and then moved away and he soon found himself faced with two other boys. They took him together, both of them moving in and as he parried one strike the other boy would aim his own. It took him a little time to move into position, when he did he caught the first boy's blade, and then as it deflected he pushed him into the other boy.
"Yield." he said kneeling down, his sword at the neck of the boy who was furthest from him and his dagger at the other boy's chest.
"Aye." they said one after another.
He looked around to see it was down to seven now, two were facing off while the other four seemed to be in a discussion and he saw them look to him. He didn't wait for them to make their intentions clear, quickly rising to his feet he ran as fast as he ever had, he hit the first boy with his shoulders from behind knocking him some feet away, the second he caught with the flat of the blade hard at the back of the knee watching as he crumbled. Looking to the other two he saw it was Mychel and the other boy from the Vale, as they moved towards him he took his dagger and threw it, catching the other lad square on the forehead.
Mychel looked to him in shock as the other boy fell to the ground and he quickly found himself face to face with Jon's sword. Without giving him a moment he moved the strike catching him as he brought his blade up, Jon though had put all his strength into it and as he watched Mychel's sword fall he raised his own to the boy's neck.
"Yield."
"Aye." Mychel said and he looked to see the two boys he'd caught earlier rising to their feet.
Once again he ran and as he got close and saw the swords being lifted he slid, the movement catching the closest boy by surprise. His sword raised he once again caught the boy on the knee, this time to the front, and once again he was down. Quickly rising to his feet he parried the blow that came and then spun using the hilt of the sword to bash against the boys' chest.
"Yield." he said to the winded boy.
"Aye."
The other boy was on the ground holding his knee and so he just walked over, raised his sword, and held it to his chest, he didn't even need to ask.
"I yield."
The fight was over between the two who'd taken no part and as Jon walked over to face the victor the boy he'd caught with his dagger staggered to his feet. Jon still looking at the other boy simply raised his sword and asked and the still drowsy boy yielded and then walked to the back unsteadily. As he looked at the last lad he thought there was something familiar about him.
"You're Jon Snow." the lad said.
"Aye, and you?"
"Domeric Bolton."
Ned.
While he had thought this to be a waste of time he found he had enjoyed the duels, even with Robert's incessant cheering beside him. God's the way he cheered from Jon made him think he thought the boy his own son, rather than thinking him to be his. Not that his nephew didn't deserve the praise, Jaime Lannister had said Jon was an incredible swordsman and he'd seen it some for himself in Winterfell.
Here though he was in his element, he had watched as Jon protected the young blond lad, as he had stood close by and paid him all his attention and he had been annoyed at it. Though not as much as Jaime was he'd noticed when he looked to the man, it wasn't that he was protecting the lad, that was admirable, nor was it that he wasn't protecting his friends as had been doing well by themselves.
It was that he was distracted, that he in spending his time watching the young lad wasn't watching the field. Something which became even clearer when the young lad yielded and Jon seemed almost shocked to see that only Cregan remained out there. Had he not been sitting with Robert he may not have noticed it, even with a drink in his hand's his friend's instincts for fighting were still better than his.
"They're targeting them." Robert had said beside him.
"Who?"
"Those lads, they're targeting Jon's friend's watch."
So watch he did and he saw it clearly then, Robb was first, he had just beaten an opponent when the two boys moved to him, his son was good but he was outmatched and soon yielded. They did the same to Loras though it took only one, as soon as Loras had won his fight and turned the boy's sword was upon him and he was taken so by surprise that he'd yielded.
"They're worried about your boy Ned, they don't want to face him without the numbers, just like King's Landing."
"What?"
"They tried it in King's Landing too, but your boy put them to the sword Ned, it was fucking glorious." Robert said laughing as he drank his ale.
What he saw next could well be described as glorious, the crowd certainly thought so and for Ned, he'd only ever seen the like of it from one man before. Jon though fought differently than Arthur, he used a little of everything, speed, and technique, power, and some of the Northern melee tactics also. He was like a raging inferno and each boy he took down came with a commentary from the king.
"Did you see that Ned."
"By the gods where did he learn to fight like that."
"Ha, he never saw that coming."
"How many is that now Ned?"
On and on Robert droned on about how great Jon was and while he found himself awed by the performance he worried about the anger and rage Jon was showing. It wasn't full-on screaming and shouting rage, but it was rage all the same and he hoped that what he saw was controlled.
"Just the two of them left, isn't that a Bolton?" Robert said.
"Aye, that's Roose's lad, Domeric."
"This should be good, then, the boy's got no chance Ned, isn't that right Ser Barristan."
Ned turned to look at the knight and had he not known that he had declared for Jon he'd have known now from looking at him. He had seen people before with that look of devotion on their faces, he'd fought against them, men who served a good prince, men who had hoped to serve a good king.
"Aye your grace, I've not seen a swordsman like Jon in many a year."
"Nor I, what say you Ned?"
"I've not seen Domeric fight, but aye, I've not seen anyone fight like Jon either." he said and almost choked such was the power of the back slap that Robert gave him, though it was his words which caused it mostly.
"A chip of the old block Ned, his father's son that one." Robert said.
"Aye." he said smiling, he truly was.
The two boys lined up and he was pleased to see Jon's smile and the one on the other boy's face, the fight was far from even though and though Domeric got a hit in, that was the extent of things for him. Jon fought calmly and precisely, dismantling the boy with speed and technique and winning five to one.
"See, I told ya, didn't I tell ya." Robert said laughing loudly.
"Your graces, my Lords and Ladies, I give you the winner of the Squires Melee, Jon Snow."
Ned listened to the cheers and the plaudits from the crowd and looked to Jon, surprised to see his smile so forced.