Highgarden 295 AC.
Jon.
Waking up that morning he washed and dressed before heading to his uncle's room, they had much to discuss and he still hadn't decided just how much he could tell him. Arthur had spoken to him about Cregan and while he knew he was right to do so, he felt annoyed that it hadn't been him. What added to that annoyance had been when Arthur mentioned he had brought up Catelyn Tully.
While his uncle had made his choice regarding his wife and they had not been together for moons, he knew his sister despite how she claimed to feel, he knew how his brother even though he hadn't spoken to him, really felt. He knew that deep down they hoped their parents could be reunited, he knew because if it had been him in their situation it would be exactly what he wished for.
Knowing what he did about Catelyn, about Edmure and Littlefinger, knowing the truth of their actions and of their plans, he also knew that should his uncle ever find out, that would never ever happen. The last thing he had ever wanted was to be the cause of that, the cause of hurt to his uncle, to his brothers and sisters, and yet it was his sister who told him that he couldn't hide this forever.
"I wondered if you'd come." Rhaenys said as they sat by the pool.
"I thought it would be different, that I would just speak to you, that I would just warg to you like with Ghost, that we would connect, not that I'd see you." he said.
"You don't like seeing me little brother?" his sister teased.
"I always like seeing you Rhae, I just wasn't expecting it to be like this."
"Then next time don't do it when you're tired and about to sleep Jae." she said laughing.
"Is everything alright, you, Lygaron, you are well?" he asked.
"We are, Tyrion came to speak to us both, Lygaron he, he gets so excited Jae, so excited to see him." his sister said a smile on her face.
"I'm happy for him, and you, I miss you Rhae."
"I miss you too little brother, but I have Sarella, and Melisandre has visited as has Loamara."
"Have they, do they bother you?"
"No, it's fine, I like being looked at in awe." she chuckled.
"Uncle Oberyn arrived and Aunt Ellaria, as did our cousins and Uncle Ned too."
"Your whole family is there." she said sadly.
"Not my whole, no, not you." he said "I, don't know what to do, he knows about Cregan, Rhae, about Ashara and Brandon. Arthur thinks I should tell him of the trout as well."
"You should, he needs to know, he needs to keep her away from you, from our cousins, if he doesn't Jae then I will."
"Rhae." he said shaking his head.
"No Jae, she wishes you dead, she tried to take you from me, she's lucky I don't fly and burn Riverrun to the ground, so no, he needs to know."
"It'll hurt." he said softly.
"The truth often does, but that's not all you wish to tell me is it?" she said playfully.
"I..Margaery and I."
"Good, I like her brother, she thinks like me."
"Like you?" he asked confused.
"Like me, she thinks you need protecting." Rhaenys said and he smiled.
"I have you to protect me."
"Always, little brother."
The next morning after he woke he went to his uncle's room and knocked on the door, his uncle opened it almost as if he had been waiting for him, and later as they walked from the keep his uncle looked to Jors and Walder.
"It's good to see you again Walder."
"You too Lord Stark."
"I'm sorry, I don't think we were introduced?" his uncle said to Jors.
"This is Ser Jors Whitewolf, Lord Stark." Jon said as a servant passed them.
"It's good to meet you, any friend of Jon's is one of mine own." his uncle said.
"I thank you it's good to meet you too my lord."
The walk to the Godswood took some time, Jon had heard about it from Loras and asked Margaery where it was but still, they almost got lost on their way, when they did reach it they were both equally surprised. The Three Singers were three Weirwoods which had become entangled, their branches were intermingled, beneath them lay a pool and though at first, they gave the appearance of one tree, it was clear by the three trunks they were once separate.
"You look well Jon." his uncle said taking a seat.
"You too uncle, it's good to see you."
"Aye, you too. Arthur explained about Cregan.""
"I had wanted to tell you myself, in person, he's a good lad uncle, a true Stark." he said and saw his uncle smile.
"Lady Ashara."
"My aunt is a fine lady uncle, I've been fortunate to get to know her some."
"You think of her as an aunt?" his uncle asked though his tone was more curious than anything.
"I've lost far too much family uncle, far too much. Ashara is my Aunt, as is Ellaria, as Oberyn is my uncle."
"About that Jon, Prince Oberyn, what happened? How?"
He told him then of Oberyn recognizing him, of Elia's letter and Rhaenix, of the Mountain and the things they learned in relation to the Maester's. Of how Oberyn had then declared for him and how he had said his brother would too, though Jon had not yet the chance to speak to Doran himself. By the time he was finished he was spent and he hadn't even begun to scratch the surface of most of the things he wished to cover.
"I'm sorry Jon, those things, what you learned. I should have been there for you, you shouldn't have gone through that alone."
"I wasn't alone uncle, I had my sister, my uncle and aunt, my cousins. I had Jaime and Gerion, Genna and Joy, they are family uncle, Tyrion too, he…he is my uncle, my blood."
"Jon?" his uncle asked clearly unsure what he meant.
"My grandfather was much eviler than we ever knew, Tyrion is the result of that evilness."
"Jon, I.."
"It's alright Uncle, we've talked of it, Tyrion is dealing with it and despite it all, I've now more blood in this world than I had thought. I may not like how it happened, but I'm glad he's here with me, as is Rhaenys."
"God's Jon the things you've gone through, I could never."
"What, imagine you had more family out there that you didn't know of? Uncle, you're going through it now too, that's why I wanted to do this in person, to speak to you, to see you."
"Because you know how it feels?" his uncle said with a soft smile.
"Aye, I do. Uncle he doesn't wish for Winterfell, to be Lord, it's not what uncle Brandon wanted, he may have been born for it, but he didn't wish for it and neither does Cregan."
"But it's his birthright, Jon."
"Speak to him uncle, I know you wish to do the right thing, but who do you wish to do it by? You, or him?"
"Him."
"Then speak to Ashara, to Cregan, you'll see it for yourself."
"Aye, I will, Jon, what did Arthur mean? why do I need to talk to you about Cat?"
"What happened uncle, why are you and she, not together?"
"I'd rather not go into it, I found some things out, worrying things, things involving another man."
"Littlefinger?"
"What, how do you know?" his uncle said turning to him.
"We've been watching him a long time Uncle, I know how he felt about Lady Catelyn, how he still feels. Nothing happened between them uncle, nothing untoward, in that respect at least." he said and saw his uncle's shoulders sag in relief.
"Would you take her back?"
"Jon, I, we shouldn't discuss this,"
"Please uncle, I need to know?"
"No, I cannot, I don't trust her Jon, not just with this, I don't trust her judgment, I don't trust her actions."
"Do you trust me uncle?"
"I do."
"Then forget what Arthur said, there are some things best not known." he said and Ned laughed.
"Jon I felt the same, I thought it with you, look how wrong I was."
"Aye, but some secrets are far too hurtful uncle, for now, can we leave it at that, in time if you wish to know I'll tell you. But, for now, can you trust I'm not keeping it from you for any other reason than I don't wish to hurt you."
"I can."
"Pray with me?" he said and his uncle nodded.
When they were done praying he turned and then began the other part of the conversation, Rhaenys was right but she was also wrong, he felt, he hoped, he'd done the right thing.
"You heard of the betrothal?"
"Aye, what was she thinking, Robert, gods, what were they thinking?"
"I'll not allow my sister to marry that boy, he is my grandfather come again, uncle. Ser Barristan, Richard, all my reports have told me so."
"You think I'd marry my daughter to a boy like that Jon, even were it not in these circumstances?"
"He is the king uncle."
"Aye, but she is my daughter, let Robert rant and rave all he wishes, I care not."
"I leave it to you, but should you need to accept it, should you need to do so, then do so. As long as Sansa stays here and the wedding is set for when she's much older, it will never happen."
"I cannot Jon, no it's not the lie, not in that way. I can see now how the world truly works, honor is something I value, something I believe in and try to live by, but I'm a wolf, not a falcon. Winter is Coming are my house words, not As High as Honor." his uncle said and he chuckled.
"Then why?"
"How can I declare for you, how can I bring my bannermen on side when my daughter is to be queen? That's what I'll have to face, so no, I can't and I won't accept the offer, Robert, Jon Arryn be damned."
"I'm sorry we didn't have something more pleasant to speak of." he said and was surprised when his uncle laughed loudly Before Jon then realized he did, almost slapping his head when he did so "Although there is something."
"What?"
"I'm to be married, Lady Margaery and I are to be wed when we're of age."
"Congratulations nephew."
"I thank you, uncle."
"Is it what you wish for Jon, I understand the politics, but is it what you wish?"
"More than anything uncle." he said and his uncle reached out and touched his shoulder, nodding and smiling his happiness clear.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Ser Barristan.
While he hated the travel, or more accurately those he was forced to travel with, he found himself growing ever more excited each mile they passed. For a man who was once a warrior, Robert was now most certainly not, he was pampered, barely rode his horse, and used any excuse to stop and drink. Cersei and Joffrey were even worse, the prince rode only when they came close to villages and Cersei never left the enormous wheelhouse if she could help it.
As for Littlefinger, his own wheelhouse was almost as bad as the queens, though at least he only came out of it to toady up to the king or queen, not that either paid him much mind. Apart from Ser Arys, Ser Richard, and the two youngest children, Barristan would gladly leave any of his companions behind. Myrcella and Tommen though never failed to bring a smile to his face, and being able to keep Joffrey from harming them, helped keep one on Ser Richard's too.
Now though as they passed the Mander where it crossed under the Rose Road he knew he was close. They would reach Highgarden on the morrow and he would see not only his king again, but Arthur too. To see his former brother, to be in a room with him once again, he had found himself looking forward to it even during the worst parts of this journey.
"You're awfully quiet Barristan." Ser Richard said riding up to him.
"Just thinking on the tourney Richard, it seems the entire realm will be coming to this one."
"Aye, I heard the king roaring and shouting it last night, how Ned was going to be there, and how if he and Ned entered the melee none would stand a chance."
"Aye, I did too." he said shaking his head, noticing the little smirk on Richard's face.
"You competing in the joust Ser?"
"I am." he said with a smile.
"Then I wish you luck, you'll need it." Richard said before he laughed as he rode back to the prince and princess.
Cheeky sod he thought, though he laughed, all the same. He had found Ser Richard to be a much better man than he had thought him to be. His worry and concern for the princess was especially something that had endeared the man to him. The man was dutiful, and now that he was no longer forced to tolerate Joffrey, he had noticed a side to him that Barristan greatly appreciated.
They made camp for the night and once again those around the fire were treated to Robert's drunken tales of killing a dragon prince, of swinging his hammer and seeing the rubies fall into the river. Followed of course now by his inevitable telling of how Ned had beaten The Sword of the Morning, this one making Barristan smile as he now knew the truth.
The last few miles were the longest he could remember but when he saw the castle in the distance, he smiled, they were finally here. Robert hadn't been on his horse for but an hour and he could already see he wished to be back in the wheelhouse, but they were riding through a city and like his son behind him, he preened. Reaching the gates he saw the Tyrell's lined up and was surprised to see not only Ned Stark but Prince Oberyn there also.
"Well Ser here we go again." Ser Arys said as he joined him in leading the king inside.
"Aye." he replied.
Watching the king having to be helped down from his horse, seeing the boy having to place the stool so he could climb down, he found himself looking to the reactions, Prince Oberyn smirked while Ned Stark shook his head. Then as one people took a knee as the king, the queen, princes, and the princess, all made their way over towards them. Barristan rather than be a Kingsguard looking for threats, found himself looking so see his true king and was both relieved and upset not to see him there.
"Highgarden is yours, your grace." Mace Tyrell said and he watched as Robert despite his eagerness to get to Ned Stark, who he'd just noticed, at least acted a king.
"Rise, all of you, I thank you, Lord Tyrell.
"My wife Lady Alerie your grace."
"My lady." the king said kissing the offered hand.
"Your grace." the woman said with a curtsy.
"My son and heir Lord Willas." Mace said and he watched as the king looked to the cane in the lad's hand.
On the introductions went and he saw the king greet the young girl surprisingly warmly before he was soon standing in front of Prince Oberyn. Despite not caring for the fat stag he still felt his hand go to his sword almost automatically, gripping the hilt tight as the two men looked at each other.
"Your grace." Oberyn said and Barristan was surprised by the mirth in the prince's voice, expecting there to be far more bite.
"Prince Oberyn." the king said and Robert's voice was more how he'd thought it would be.
"Lord Jaime, I offer my congratulations on your daughter's birth." The king said far more warmly.
"Your Grace, I thank you."
Finally, the two childhood friends were facing each other, he was surprised how tense it seemed, how it almost seemed like they were anything but.
"You got fat." the king said to Ned Stark and he was sure he wasn't in alone thinking the king needed to take a look in a looking glass. Ned Stark obviously agreed as rather than answer, he instead moved his eyes down to the king's belly and then back to his face and nodded, before the king burst out in laughter and embraced the man.
"Your grace."
"Ned, Ned it's good to see you."
"You too your grace."
While the two former foster brothers caught up Barristan looked to Lord Jaime who smiled at him and to Prince Oberyn who did likewise, he then watched as the rest of the royal family was introduced. The queen was her usual arrogant self and it was only when she was facing Lady Margaery did she attempt to be charming.
"Lady Margaery, it seems the tales of your beauty were far from exaggerated." the queen said and he wondered if the girl could tell the fake nature of the smile she was graced with.
"Your Grace, you honor me."
"Perhaps we could have tea together?" the queen said.
"I would be delighted your grace." the girl said her own smile beaming though he felt it to be a practiced rather than genuine one.
"My son, the crown prince." the queen said a moment later, this time her smile far truer.
"My lady." Joffrey said his own smile just as his mother's had been a bit earlier.
"Your grace." Lady Margaery said with a perfect curtsy.
"Your beauty outshines even Highgarden's own my lady." Joffrey said and even Barristan couldn't refrain from rolling his eyes.
He didn't need to judge what the Queen of Thorns thought of the exchange, nor it seems did the queen who could barely contain a scowl.
"Your Grace." Olenna said and if the queen's smile was plastered on, then Olenna's looked as if someone was holding a knife to her throat.
"Lady Olenna, it's good to see you again." the queen said moving on
The exchange with Oberyn was brief as the queen quickly moved to her brother after Oberyn's remark about her niece had forced the smile from her face completely.
"Prince Oberyn, I'm surprised to see you here." the queen said.
"I love a good tourney, your grace, besides I wished to deliver my present for your niece myself, such a lovely babe, Joanna named for your mother I believe." Oberyn said.
"Indeed." Cersei said before she was face to face with her brother.
"Your grace." Jaime said kissing the offered hand.
"Brother, it's good to see you well, my goodsister has she not joined you? I'd so love to meet her finally, her and my niece."
"My wife and daughter were not expecting you so soon your grace, and were unable to be ready in time."
"Such a shame, well I'm sure I'll meet them later on."
"Of course your grace."
Barristan had rarely seen Jaime so stiff as he was right then, he looked like a taut bowstring ready to let go at any moment. Given what he had said the queen had tried to do to Jae, given he now had his own daughter also to worry about, and how the queen had handled the news of the wedding and birth, he was right to be concerned. With the introductions finally done, he watched as the king and Ned Stark reluctantly parted, though it seemed more on the King's part than on Starks.
As they made their way to their rooms, Lord Mace and Lady Alerie politely engaging the king and queen in conversation, he finally as they passed a window, saw him. Jae was outside playing with his wolf, behind him stood a giant guard and a smaller one, his new brothers and there watching over them he stood. While his face was completely covered by the helm and he didn't carry his famous sword, he'd know him anywhere.
'I'll speak to you soon brother.' he thought as he smiled upon seeing Arthur for the first time in over ten years.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Ned.
He had heard from Jon and from Jaime that Robert drank and whored and feasted, that the man who had once towered over almost any who faced him, the man who was once built of granite was long gone. In its place was a man who could barely ride his horse, a man who needed help dismounting from it. Robert while not as large as Wyman could easily steal the name some called the Lord of White Harbor behind his back, though perhaps it would be 'king too fat to sit a horse' instead Ned thought and shook his head.
It hurt him to see him this way, to see it with his own eyes, but to smell the drink on him made it even worse. Ned wasn't averse to an ale and some mornings he'd enjoy one far earlier than he should. But not when he was doing his duties, not when he was meeting his bannermen and certainly not when he was traveling. It had made conversation far more awkward than it may have been otherwise, though given Jon, perhaps it was not the drink which did so.
He was glad his children and his nephew weren't there to be presented, given how many lords and ladies there were, he, Jaime, Prince Oberyn, the Tyrells, and others, there was simply not enough room. Now as he walked to where they were though he thought on his other nephew, and so reaching Ser Arthur he made his choice.
"Ser Daeron, do you think I could meet your sister and nephew?" he said as there were far too many people close by to call the man his true name.
"You can my lord, should you wish it?"
"I very much do Ser Daeron, at their earliest convenience." he said and Arthur nodded before walking to Walder and then turning back to him and nodding that it was to be now. Before he could leave though Jon came over and he told him where he was going.
"You wish me there?" Jon asked.
"No, enjoy your time with your brother's and sisters, we'll soon have to get ready for yet another feast, I don't know who'll look forward to it more, Lord Mace or Robert."
"You saw him?"
"Aye, it was as you say Jon."
"You've not seen anything yet Lord Stark, wait until the feast." Jon said before Arya called him.
"Jon, it's your turn." his daughter said and his nephew smiled before turning back to his sisters.
He followed Arthur into the keep, walked down through some corridors, and eventually came to the room he assumed Ashara was staying in. She opened the door after he knocked and just seeing her there, seeing her in the flesh, he was almost transported back to Harrenhal. Just like then he was speechless, though at least this time his words came to him eventually.
"My lady."
"Lord Stark, please come inside."
He was pleased that Arthur took his place at the door, while he wasn't against the man's presence, it unnerved him, clearly, he and the knight had issues to resolve and he suspected they were related to how he had raised Jon.
"I'm happy to see you well my lady."
"Ashara, Eddard, call me Ashara." she said smiling.
"Ned." he said as they took their seats.
"My son is sparring with his friends Ned, I thought we should speak alone first though I hadn't expected it to be so soon."
"Nor I, Ashara, though I'm happy for it."
"What do you know?" she asked.
He told her what Arthur had told him and found out it was while extensive was far from complete and so Ashara filled in the rest.
"I loved him the moment I saw him, I knew he was a bit of a cad and that he could have been telling me what I wished to hear, but I believed him, there was something sad about him, something he seemed to be hiding."
"Sad, Hiding?" he asked confused.
"Your brother had no wish to be Lord of Winterfell Ned, it was too constraining, too time-consuming, he liked the trappings of what it meant but not the duties it would require, not the obligations, he envied you."
"Me?"
"He did, you didn't face the same obligations or duties and yet you were far more dutiful than he, he wished to marry for love, to live in a keep and be comfortable. To be Lord of Winterfell, to be Warden of the North, it wore on him, even being heir wore on him."
"I didn't know." he said shaking his head.
"Do you know now, does what he felt not feel like your own life?"
He looked at her and then nodded, while he at times hated being Lord, he accepted the duties, the responsibilities, they in some way gave him focus but he also knew they limited him as much as they helped him.
"Aye, I know."
"When your father threatened to disown him, to remove him as heir, Brandon felt free, he could breathe. He was happy Ned, happier than even I'd seen him up to that point. We had lain together by then, told each other we wished to spend our lives together, wished to be together forever and so we married in front of the Heart Tree and said our vows."
"I don't understand when was this?"
"Not long after Harrenhal, your brother was sent to White Harbor, or to be more precise he arranged for it. After I met him there we married in the godswood, just the two of us as we didn't wish anyone else involved."
"What happened in Kings Landing?"
"I was with child by then, when Elia was forced to stay, when Brandon arrived. I tried to get to him before he entered the Red Keep before he called for Rhaegar to come out and die, I truly did." she said as she began to cry.
"Ashara." he said softly as he got up from his seat and offered her his handkerchief to wipe her eyes.
"I was too late and he was in the cells the next time we spoke, had I been able to... had it been in my power... but he was far too well guarded, he was Aerys prime prisoner you see. So all I could do was see him, speak to him and he wished us wed in mine own faith, even though I by then was more attuned to his."
"I'm sorry Ashara."
"I'll not speak of what happened next, you know it and it haunts my nights enough as it is, but Elia made me return to Starfall while I still could, and so I did and Cregan was born not long after I arrived."
"What is he like Ashara, my nephew?"
"He is his father's son, oh he doesn't have his wilfulness or his wildness, though I've no doubt should anyone hurt those he cares for he'd show his wolf's blood." she said and even teary-eyed she smiled.
"What does he wish for? Ask it of me and I'll step down, I'll name him true and swear my oaths to him, he is my brother's son, his heir, the rightful Lord of Winterfell."
"He doesn't wish it, I don't wish it for him, nor would his father have, but even if he did I can offer no proof other than my word."
"I've seen him Ashara, he is Brandon's son of that there is no doubt and your word is enough for me."
"But not your bannermen Ned, there would always be those who doubted and again even were it not for that, it's not the life I wish for my son. To marry for an alliance, to be worn down with responsibility, he is his father's son Ned and I'll not crush him so."
"Then what Ashara, what can I give you, what can I give him, name it of me and if it's my power I'll see it done."
"He wishes a family Ned, to see his family, to be known by them, Jon he has met and loves like a brother, I'd have him be the same with his other cousins."
"I will do it, but we can do more, we can..we can..." he said as he began to think "I can name him so publicly, you too, Robert would not begrudge me the memory of my brother, his wife."
"No Ned, I don't want to have my son used to undermine you and there are those who would seek to do so, if you name us as such, if you call us true, then it'll be a sword hanging forever over your head, over your son's head."
"There is another way." he said and she looked at him as he closed his eyes "A way to fix this, while not the same, perhaps it could work."
"What."
"Bear with me, we have no proof of the wedding, of either of them, so what if we use that, what if we name it as true, but not the weddings."
"I don't understand?"
"We name Cregan as my nephew, as Brandon's son, you as his mother, we may not be able to give him my name, but he is my blood, we can give him another."
"You'd name him a bastard?" she asked and while there was some anger, it was not full he was glad to see.
"I'd welcome him into my family, we have a king to crown soon Ashara, a king with the power to name him how he wishes, to call him Stark or give him another name. He could form a cadet branch, have his own house, If I cannot give him what I would then I can give him what he would have gotten had my brother lived."
"You've given this some thought." she said looking at him.
"It was what I should have done with Jon once I decided not to crown him, what a good man would have done, what I failed to do." he said looking down to the ground.
"Robert?"
"Will love the story, fool that he is."
"I could come out of hiding, be who I am." she said as she smiled.
"Aye, think about it, we have time."
"We do."
"Can I meet him, and though we're forced to feast the king tonight, tomorrow would you both join us and I'll introduce him to his family?."
"I'd like that Ned, I'd like that very much."
Highgarden 295 AC.
Margaery.
The prince was paying her far too much attention, far too much, she had noticed it when they were introduced and knew she'd have no choice but to accompany him to the feast tonight. She smiled, was polite, but it wasn't his arm she wished to be holding, nor his conversation she wished to be listening too. She looked out to the tables, looked to see the person that she wished was sitting beside her and found she couldn't find him.
Had he not come? Was he upset with her? She hoped he understood that it was as her grandmother had said, they needed to keep appearances up, they had to pretend though it hurt her to do so. Joffrey seemed to have learned how to pretend somewhat too, he laughed at her jokes, he smiled and complimented her constantly. But his smiles rang false, his compliments rang hollow and nothing he said or did moved her heart the same, as just a look from Jon would.
"Will you be competing in the duels my prince?" she asked after she'd looked and been unable to find Jon once more.
"Unfortunately not my lady, mother thinks it's unseemly for a prince to compete in such things, the joust is where princes show their worth. Were I old enough to compete in such I'm sure I'd find no lady fairer than you to crown my queen of love and beauty."
"You flatter me my prince." she said and for the briefest moment she saw what she thought was a grimace, but the prince's smile returned a moment later.
"I speak only the truth, my lady, as a prince is wont to do."
"Then you honor me, my prince." she said and this time he smiled a little more genuine though she doubted it was for her that the smile was intended.
She heard the snort as she turned to look at the rest of the table, though she ignored it at first as she noticed the looks that Lord Stark was given the King, the same king who was at present grabbing one of the serving girls and pulling her onto his knee. She caught the queen turn her head and look her way and she smiled politely, though the queen barely saw her as it was to Lady Lannister she was looking.
Seeing the expression on the queen's face, she recognized it from Joffrey, so much so that when she turned to look back at the prince she was taken aback to see it was also now on his own. It was disgust, disdain, the feelings of both annoyance and she would guess hatred, it didn't take her too long to find out why the prince felt that way, and she felt her own anger rise though hers was directed to the boy beside her.
"Who does he think he is arriving at a feast after his prince, and to bring the other little bastard with him of all things."
She looked out and saw Jon arrive with Joy, holding her arm as if he was escorting her to the high table and she smiled.
"Snow." Joffrey shouted causing those nearest to him including herself to look at him "Snow." he shouted even louder and by now everyone in the room apart from the king had stopped what they were doing and the room hushed.
"Your grace?" Jon said.
"What is the meaning of this Snow, how dare you arrive after the king." Joffrey said and she looked on worriedly.
"I meant no disrespect, Lady Joy was feeling unwell and we had thought not to attend, but when she felt better we did as it would be far more disrespectful not to attend the king's welcome feast at all than to turn up late to do so. However, you have my apologies my prince, which I offer to his grace and her grace also."
"Apologies, you offer apologies, you forget your station Snow, that you would disrespect my father by turning up late and offer platitudes is what one should expect from a bastard, even one raised by his betters. You should be removed, your presence is an insult" Joffrey sneered.
Jon said nothing and instead walked and placed a confused looking Joy at the table, sitting her beside his sister's before smiling and shaking his head at the girl. He turned and walked towards the door, and then he did something which surprised her, the rest of the high table, and even the prince, he began to whistle. That alone would have been enough, but that it was the Rains of Castamere he was whistling, was the reason why she heard the fevered whispers and saw the prince grip the table as Jon whistled louder
"Snow." the queen shouted and Jon turned to look at her before bowing far more theatrically than she knew he could.
"Your Grace?"
"What is the meaning of this, how dare you?"
"How dare I what, Your Grace?" Jon asked his face full of confusion.
"That song, how dare you whistle that song, who do you think you are?"
"I'm nobody, your grace, as his grace just informed me so, the prince told me my presence was an insult, so I was leaving as it was inferred to me I should."
"Then why were you whistling that song?"
"It is a Lannister song is it not your grace and Lady Joy is the future Lady of Castamere, I thought it apt."
"You impertinent." Cersei said and Margaery found herself seeing the queen for who she truly was.
"Enough, what the hell is going on here." the king said removing his head from the servant's bosom."
"This bastard insulted you, my love, he insulted our son, he should be punished for his impertinence."
"Snow?"
"Your grace."
"What the hell is my wife speaking about."
"Lady Joy was unwell your grace and so I chose to forego the feast until she felt better, by the time she did the feast was already started and so we arrived late, which his grace prince Joffrey found offensive and disrespectful. I wrongly I now concede assumed it would be far more disrespectful to not arrive at all your grace."
"As it would be." the king said looking down at his son.
"However Prince Joffrey bid me leave as my presence was an insult." Jon said and she watched as Ned Stark, Prince Oberyn, and her grandmother all glared at the prince and king while Jaime Lannister instead angrily looked to the queen.
"He said that you said that about Ned's boy?" the king said loudly to Joffrey.
"I did father, for it was." Joffrey said and she could see his fingers almost digging into the wood now "Then he began to whistle father."
"He what?"
"He whistled, The Rains of Castamere."
"Snow?" the king asked confused.
"Your Grace I've been squiring for Lord Jaime for six years, Lady Joy is Lady of Castamere and not used to seeing me being asked to leave a hall, I didn't wish her to be upset and so I whistled the tune as I have on many an occasion to show her there was nothing untoward going on, nothing that she needed to be concerned about."
"You did so for Lady Joy?" the king said a smirk on his face.
"I did your grace. May I be excused?"
"You may not, my son is mistaken Jon Snow, your presence does not insult me, nor does your late arrival, perhaps my son could learn a lesson and treat his sister how you treat Lady Joy, he would be far better for it." Robert said and she heard the growl from beside her.
"Indeed father." Joffrey said as he looked at Jon before he turned to face his mother.
She was torn between looking at Joffrey, at the queen, at the king, her family or Jon's but in the end, it was Jon himself she looked at as he walked to the table, she could swear he came close to whistling again. But when he saw her looking he just smiled, and then she had to catch her breath and stop herself from laughing when he winked at her as he took his seat. Sitting down he soon began to laugh at something Joy whispered in his ear.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Jon.
Sitting by Joy's bed he began to read her a story, he had told Sansa and Arya to stay and enjoy the feast, his youngest sister happy to spend time with Lyanna Mormont while his older seemed more keen to join him. But he had said with their father there, with Robb and Loras, Brienne, Cregan and the others it would be better for him to leave alone with Joy just as he had arrived. Besides he needed to thank her for her part in things.
"You did really well there Joy."
"I hate him," she said and he smirked.
"Well, we showed him didn't we."
"We did, it was dangerous though, what if they'd have tried to harm you?" she asked worriedly.
"I had my protector with me, who can harm me when I'm with you." he said and she giggled.
"I was your knight then?"
"You were, let me tell you a tale about another lady knight, the knight of the laughing tree." he said as he began to tell her of his mother.
He knew they'd be joining him eventually and so as he walked to his room he asked all three of his knights inside, deciding to get this part over with first.
"I know, I know, I took a great risk and it was silly and stupid and far too dangerous." he said.
"Then why did you?" Arthur asked.
"Sansa, I needed to give my uncle a reason, the king will bring up the betrothal, my uncle can now bring up tales of Joffrey, can use this to show how much the boy overreacts, oversteps. How this along with tales of his sister and brother can't allow him to agree to such a thing, or at least to wait until the boy is older before he did so."
"It's a good plan Jon, but you risked too much." Arthur said.
"No risk is too much for my family Arthur, no risk."
While his knights didn't agree, they at least accepted something that Jaime, Oberyn and his uncle didn't when they all made their way to his room later that night. The argument going round and round in circles so much that looking to Ghost he wished he could just warg and go for a hunt, even the taste of blood in his mouth would be better than this. In the end, he reluctantly agreed to not try something like this again, he accepted their chastisement, and as he slept that night he laughed over the idea that he was actually their king and yet he'd been the one being talked down to.
Breaking his fast the next morning he was pleased when his uncle said they'd be having a family dinner that night, even more pleased when he heard him say they would be joined by Cregan and his mother. What he was less pleased with was the fact he'd not get to spend time with Margaery, the prince's seemingly almost constant wish to be with her starting to grate on him.
"Will you take us to the stalls Jon, Lyanna and I wish to see the weapons." Arya said and he chuckled.
"Sansa and Joy wish to see the other stalls little wolf."
"But the weapons Jon?" Arya said aghast at the idea that anyone would wish to see other things.
"Have you ever had a candied apple Arya?"
"No, what's that?"
"How about when I meet up with you later, I take you to both sets of stalls."
He watched as she played it over in her head and then nodded in agreement and then caught Bran looking at him eagerly.
"Aye, you can come too brother."
The group which eventually ended up walking around the stalls, later on, was far larger than he had expected. Both his sisters, his brothers, his cousin, Loras, Brienne, Tion, Walder, Martyn and Willem, and of course Joy, not to mention six Direwolves. Along with their guards, they must have looked quite the sight and he was glad he'd brought a full purse, Joy and Sansa both held his arms, and Arya both rolled her eyes and looked on jealously.
"Jon Candies." Joy said and he shook his head, the first stall not the one he was going to.
"Candied apples Joy, remember how much you loved them?"
"Hmmmm, Candied apples yummy Sans." Joy said as she giggled.
Behind him Lyanna Mormont and Arya walked while alternating between doing impressions of his knights and trying to walk like warriors, and being the two young girls they were and looking to race off at the first opportunity. His brothers were talking excitedly to Loras and Brienne, while Cregan was entertaining Walder, Tiion, Martyn and Willem with tales of tourneys and knights.
The next stall he came to forced him to stop, well to be precise the six hungry Direwolves did, the six birds he bought for them were devoured in minutes and he shook his head as Ghost and Fang looked to see if they were getting more. Thankfully he saw the candied apple stall, or to be more accurate Joy did and practically dragged him towards it.
"See yummy Sans." Joy said and he looked to see that not only did Sansa agree but evidently so did the others, including the wolves.
They passed by stalls selling fabrics that Sansa and Joy both bought something at, with their own coin much to his surprise. Then a stall which sold weapons which while he wouldn't allow Lyanna or Arya buy from, he did buy them both a knife belt each and promise that if they were allowed he'd buy them a knife for their next nameday.
They were just about to go to the tourney grounds itself when he was grabbed by Joy, an almost funny mock angry look on her face. Kneeling down he looked at her as she put her hands on her hips, saw the small quiver of her lip as she tried to hold back her smirk.
"No Jon, we cannot, no pen nuts."
"No pen nuts?" he said playing along.
"Aye, no pen nuts, no pen nuts, no tourney Jon." she said and he saw Sansa laugh while he caught Bran asking Robb what a pen nut was.
"Hands up who wants pen nuts?" he said and tried to remain serious when Joy put both her hands up.
"Sans, hands." Joy said and his little sister giggled as she raised hers while Joy looked around practically daring people not to raise their hands "Ser Jors pen nuts?" she asked and he shook his head when Jors and Walder raised their hands too "See Jon pen nuts." she said then a proud look on her face.
"Pen nuts it is then my lady." he said as he took her hand again.
Robb came over to him when he was buying them suggesting they get some for Wynafred and Wylla also and in the end, he bought not only them some, but some for others he assumed would be there too. As they entered the tourney grounds they quickly made their way to their seats, he and Joy would be sitting with the Lannister's and he knew it was Lady Olenna he needed to thank when he saw how she'd placed them.
Apart from his uncle and her own family who were placed in the king's section, the Lannister's, Starks, Martells, the Northern lords, all were placed in the same section. As he sat down he handed peanuts to Ellaria and Oberyn, to Genna and Dacey, Oberyn's daughters shook their head as did Lynesse, but Wyman and Wylis both accepted them and then they sat and waited until the king arrived.
He tried not to look and see Joffrey holding her arm, tried to keep his eyes focussed ahead, but he felt it, the anger and so he closed his eyes and reached out, he kept them closed and went looking for the door. It didn't take him long and when he found it he hoped he timed this right. It turned out he timed it far better than he ever could have wished, he missed the tunic he was aiming for, the crimson left unmarked, the same couldn't be said for the prince's hair.
"What the hell, somebody kill that bird, bring me a damn cloth you fools, what are you waiting for, now." Joffrey said loudly.
Opening his eyes he looked to Margaery, who was trying to look concerned and was looking at him oddly before she smirked the lopsided grin bringing his own smile to his face.
"Pretty birdie Jon, pretty birdie made a mess." Joy said as Joffrey ran off to fix his hair.
"Good Birdie." he said and she laughed, as did his sister and most of those around him.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Littlefinger
He hated tourneys he had to admit, the sheer boredom of watching men fire arrows at a target doing nothing for him at all. Looking to the queen it was clear he wasn't the only one who felt this way. Seeing the prince with the Tyrell girl and how Lord Mace and his wife kept looking their way was rewarding, though he could have done without the boy's reaction to the bird shit.
Joffrey's arrogance and temper tantrums were well known to those who were forced to deal with him each day and while as Crown Prince they weren't enough to force a prospective bride away, they were problematic. As was his attitude at the feast the night before, calling Jon Snow out as he did was an exercise in stupidity, the boy was far too confident a bastard to be worried by a pompous prince.
Even he had been impressed by how he'd handled the prince, how instead of sloping off with his tail between his legs, he'd somehow instead made the prince look the fool. So much so that even the king had gotten involved, something the queen was still angry about, though whether it was the King, Jon Snow, or her brother's wife that bothered her most was hard to tell.
"My lord." a servant said handing him a note
He opened it up unsurprised to see it was from Lady Olenna, and so he looked over and nodded agreeing to meet once this damn day's events were over. The Tyrell's were going all out, the prize money on offer was incredible and the events they were holding would stretch for many days. Archery though was all that would occur today, but soon there would be duels for the squires, a melee, a joust, and an exhibition of horsemanship with a race around the outer walls of Highgarden itself.
He looked on as more arrows were fired, as the targets were moved further apart and he found his attention wandering yet again. He looked to Ned Stark who was listening to the king and trying not to look disgusted at his drinking, to the Lannisters who were sitting and cooing over the babe, much to the queen's annoyance. Finally, he looked to the rest of the Starks and wondered what Cat would think when he told her he'd seen her whole family here.
It had surprised him to see them sitting so close to the Lannister's though he supposed given the bastard maybe not so much, to see Prince Oberyn sitting in the middle of them though was something he didn't expect. His attention was soon drawn to the bastard and to another boy sitting with them. For a second he thought he was back in Riverrun many years earlier, something which felt even more real when the girl smiled, her red hair, her deep blue eyes all looking far too familiar to him.
"Cat." he whispered and one of the lords looked at him oddly.
Getting up from his seat he walked to take some air elsewhere, his eyes still drawn to the girl, to the boy sitting some seats down and he felt the pain in his side that he had felt back then once again as if he was feeling it for the first time. He grabbed some water from a passing servant, drank it down, and decided to head back toward the keep itself, his mind filled with memories of a day long ago, of a sword and boy and the girl he still loved.
"Perhaps you would walk with me Lord Baelish, I find today's event's not to my taste." he heard the voice say and he turned to see Oberyn Martell.
"I would welcome the company Prince Oberyn, I find myself bored with them also."
"I'm surprised you've come to this tourney Lord Baelish, I would have thought your own duties would keep you in King's Landing?"
"I find myself likewise my prince, it's not in Highgarden one would have expected to find you?"
"For far too long Dorne has kept itself from affairs in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms my lord, for far too long we've allowed others to dictate how things proceed. I seek to rectify that and a tourney seems a good place to start."
"It is, perhaps we can talk more later my prince."
"Perhaps." Oberyn said and then bent down and picked up his silver pin which he hadn't noticed had fallen.
"You should be careful, a fall can be damaging, especially for a thing so small." Oberyn said as he handed him the pin.
"It's a resilient little thing, my prince."
"For now it would seem so." Oberyn said with a smirk.
When Oberyn left he felt discomfited by their talk, if the Dornish were beginning to look inward this was both an opportunity and a danger, either way, he would need to tread carefully. When he went to place the pin back on his chest he felt the pin prick his finger, felt the blood drop as it fell and raised it to his lips, and as he placed his finger to his mouth he paused, and then he shivered.
Shaking his head he laughed a moment later and cursed himself for his foolishness, why would the Red Viper wish to poison him, especially when there were far higher targets on the man's list. No, if Oberyn wished anyone dead it was not a small bird like he who flew unnoticed, but the large stag who was anything but. Still, he found it a strange encounter and it preyed on his mind until he met with Lady Olenna later that day.
"My lady." he said as he took a seat in her solar.
"Lord Baelish, why are you here, you're not a man for tourneys and certainly not the man the king would wish to accompany him on a visit, so what brings you to Highgarden?"
"You wound me, my lady, the king and I get along so well." he said with a smirk.
"Were you one of my poor servant girls or a bottle of my finest wines I'd agree, but you are neither, so again Lord Baelish, why are you here?"
"My lady, a divide has occurred between us, between the crown and House Tyrell, a divide I would seek to rectify."
"And who's fault is this divide my Lord, not ours?."
"Indeed, his grace can be a stubborn man my lady, but even stubborn men have wives and sons they must listen to, do you not agree?" he said and she smiled.
"Those who wish a quiet life, aye."
"His grace is ever so wishful of a quiet life, one without his wife's full displeasure."
"Is he now, and what does this quiet life entail?"
"A noble bride for the crown prince my lady."
As he walked back to his room that night to prepare for yet another feast, he almost bounced, he had baited the hook, soon it would time to reel the roses in. He was feeling so proud of himself that he didn't see her, didn't notice her or her brother until he was almost upon them. Jon Snow may have been Ned Stark's son, but he took more after his mother whoever she was, Ashara Dayne he could believe looking at the boy now, but the girl, the girl, of her there was no doubt, the girl was Cat come again.
"Lady Sansa, allow me to introduce myself, Lord Petyr Baelish, I'm a good friend of your aunt and your mothers."
"My lord." she said and her curtsy was perfect, her smile absolutely radiant.
"And you must be Jon Snow?"
"I am my lord." the boy said though he didn't smile, didn't change his expression.
He was about to say something to the boy when he heard the growl, turning he almost soiled himself, the wolf was grey with yellow eyes and as he looked at its teeth, he turned to see Jon Snow with a smile on his face. Though soon his attention was drawn from that to the white wolf which crept up behind the boy and moved towards him. If the grey one was scary, the white wolf was terrifying, its eyes were red and it was thrice the size of the other.
"You have nothing to fear my lord, wolves only eat when they're hungry and Ghost and Fang are well fed." Jon Snow said as the grey wolf moved to Sansa and the white one stared deep into his eyes.
"Impressive beasts." he said his voice shaky.
"Wolves are not beasts my lord." Sansa said her frown directed at him.
"I did not mean it as an insult, my lady." he said trying his best to smile.
"Wolves don't respond to insults my lord, they respond to danger, danger to their pack. Have you ever seen what a pack of wolves would do to that they consider a danger Lord Baelish?" Jon Snow said and he found himself withering under the boy's gaze as much as he had his wolves.
"No." he said.
"Maybe you'll be lucky and never see it my lord, but should you ever find yourself near a wolf pack, should you ever find yourself on the wrong side of one, I would offer you some advice." Jon Snow said and he found his head shaking and his fingers trembling both at the boy and the now bared teeth of the wolf.
"What?"
"Run my lord, run for your life." and as he watched Sansa, Jon Snow, and the wolves walk away from him, he wondered could he run fast enough.