Chapter 2
Unknown to them, both of them were holding each other for quite some time. Jon sudden and unexpected arrival had caused a silent uproar among the lords of royal court. There mutterings got amplified when Arya stark jumped into the arms of the bastard and embraced him as a long lost lover returned just for her. Ned stark with his older three children got their own surprise when he saw it was Jon in Arya's arms. Unlike all lords of the seven kingdoms the north had not lost hope for seeing the bastard alive. In fact Ned stark and his family knew the bastard lived, he had seen the letters Jon had send to Arya. Jon would have send letter to Robb and Ned too if he knew how to apologize for leaving without informing them. But to see him alive was a pleasant surprise.
While Arya didn't had the time to see Jon attire and condition as she ran to him just after seeing his stupid grinning face, Ned stark contemplated his attire like all the present lords. He was wearing a grey tunic on a black surcoat over the same color armor which looked well made and had seen battles. On the heart side of the surcoat a sigil of white direwolf with red eyes on a blue field was stitched through it. All this was partially seen because of the black furs he was wearing on it.
If seen from a distance he looked like a black brother of the nights watch. However the most noticeable were the swords he was carrying. Having one sword was common is Westeros, even two can be explained but carrying three swords, with all them being at least a longsword in size was astonishing. The smallest one was strapped to his right side, it was a longsword with a slender sheath signifying a slender blade, and the pommel of the sword was hidden by a black cloth. A bastard sword was strapped to his left. It had a snarling direwolf head with red garnets eyes as its pommel. On his back was a greatsword as big as stark ancestral sword Ice. The sword had a moonstone pommel.
Jon had lost all the baby fat that was there when Ned stark had last seen him. There was a scar running along his right eyebrow which made him look older than he is. Ned stark couldn't imagine what his boy had gone through in these past five years. At the same time he was proud of him for surviving the world at such a small age. One thing was clear when Ned stark saw his son, Jon snow left as a boy and now he had returned as a man grown.
When Jon finally let Arya on her feet again he kissed her forehead. This time too they spoke as one.
"You haven't grown much."
"You have grown taller." When both of them register what the other one meant, Arya smacked him on his chest with her small fist while Jon laughed.
"height matters not, I am far faster than you could ever be." Arya said throwing him a haughty look.
Before Jon could retort he heard the hard voice of Ned stark. His uncle was now standing below the high table gazing at him with parental love in his eyes.
"lord stark" Jon called his uncle by his tittle as it was required.
His uncle apparently was not pleased with his response as he stepped quickly towards Jon and gave a crushing hug which took the breath away from his chest.
"Mad boy, I know what made you run away, but at least you should have talked to me. For three moons I kept searching for you till Arya told me of your foolish plan."
"I didn't want to trouble you further my lord"
"you are blood Jon, and stark's take of each other. Have you forgot what I always said, the lone wolf…"
"Dies but the pack survives. I remember uncle, I remember. That is why I came back to my pack because winter is coming."
Ned stark smiled grimly at the way he said those words. He looked so much like a stark, that the words coming out of him made more sense than said by any other man, thought Ned stark. Ned stark noticed that Jon was now as tall as him and would later outgrow him, his father lord Rickard was known for his height. Jon had the similar features as Ned's mother Lyarra, but nobody could deny that he was Rickard stark grandson. His father would have been proud, if he saw Jon now.
"Come now, Arya is not the only one who wants to know everything you did all this time away from home. I will have your old room get ready for you, as this time you are not going anywhere till I say."
"I don't think that would be quite possible uncle" Jon replied as he saw the angry figure of Robb and Renjen stark coming towards him. This was going to be a long day. Jon tried his best to greet and calm his other cousins and uncle, while answering the continuous questions fired at him from Bran and Rickon.
All came to an end when the second trueborn son of the king came sauntering towards him. As Jon saw the approaching face of prince Joffrey he groan loudly enough for Arya to hear and giggle. To let her know that it was not amusing he threw her his best glare. A smile saying 'you deserved it for the height comment' was all he got in return. From Jon memory, prince Joffrey was a royal prick. The last time Jon had met him, he had loved to call Jon bastard as many time he could. At that time the price was only six years old, now he was almost a young man.
"Bastard, we thought you had died in some gutter after running from here." Joffrey greeted Jon with all the disdain he could muster.
"well my lord you were certainly wrong about that, as I am in front of you as hale and hearty a man could be" Jon replied as casually as he could. After living with men the likes of Tyrion Lannister, Bronn and Pentosi magisters, Jon had learned some of their manner.
"it is my prince, bastard not my lord. Did no one ever teach you some manner to how to talk the prince of the crown? I could have you whipped for it. It seems leaving away from this cold place had mad you simple". Joffrey laughed with his minions who always surrounded him.
"You may have a point there. You see I have been leaving in Essos where there is no distinction between men. There you have to survive with either your wits or your sword. I am sure you will make a great name for yourself there." This remark for Jon again caused the hall to fall in silence. Jon knew perfectly well that not only he had mock the prince but he had not called him by his proper title once. From the corner of his eyes he could see his uncles stiffening. The younger Jon would have apologized instantly in this situation but this Jon would not. His younger self would have even bowed before the king and his Queen and all their broods. That boy died at Essos, this Jon didn't feared the consequences of his ill manner at least. Apparently his response had made the prince red faced in anger. It took him some seconds to get audible words out of his mouth.
"you…how…how dare you"
"If that will be all I would like have some time with my cousins." Jon tried to take few steps towards the door of the hall when he saw the tall, giant like figure of the prince's dog. Moments like this caused Jon to miss his companion the most. If only Ghost was here he would never have to hear the bickering of the child prince. Jon just didn't had the patience for this kind of thing, he always had Sam or Tyrion to help him go through this if required. Those two would be on their way to winterfell , if Jon had waited for them they would be here with him now. Jon took some few breaths to calm him, and turned towards the prince. With his most genuine false smile that he could muster, he told the boy the reason for his dis-respectfulness.
"my prince because of my long and hard journey my mind is not at the right place, if you allow me I would take your leave and get better." This seemed to calm the idiot some as some of his anger left his face.
"I don't want to talk to the likes of you, bastard. What I want is your sword." Joffrey said the last part with an evil glint in his eyes.
"The sword at your back, it is the Nightfall right? I have read about the every Valerian steel sword in Westeros. The Sword with the moonstone pommel is the ancestral sword of house Harlaw. I know it is in your blood to steal, but it is quite commendable to steal such a priced artifact that too from the savage islanders."
"What of it" Jon's tolerance towards this insolent boy was running out. He knew where this was going, hopeful this would end peacefully.
"Are you deaf too bastard? I ordered you to handover the sword to me. I will not punish you for stealing it from house Harlaw, as act of mercy to house stark."
Jon ran his burned hand through his hairs, a childhood habit of his whenever he was distressed or angry. And gods knew he was angry, so to calm himself again, he searched around the faces surrounding him to find her. It seems Arya wanted to meet his eyes too. It was instantaneous. The second he saw her faced filled with anger and annoyance towards the prince, he relaxed a little, it was assuring to see he was not the only one having these types of emotion. However the most appeasing part came next when she gave him a challenging look filled with amusement. So she wanted to test him. Jon laughed internally thinking about his absurd little sister. She would always find amusement whenever Jon was in a tricky position. It felt good to know that nothing has changed between them. She was still his Arya.
"Did you understand what I said or I have to call the maester for you." Excellent, leave it to evil Joffrey to kill the fun. Anyway, now Jon had matters to handle. Jon knew that Joffrey will not concede till he gets what he want, spoiled evil child. This mad boy was third in line to the throne,god bless Westeros.
"You cannot have it." Jon answered as a parent declining a child which caused some one to giggle, probably Arya.
"What do you mean I can't have it?"
"I am sorry my prince, was I not clear for the first time. I said you can't have my sword. Or should I call the maester for you my prince?" now Jon was not this childish, but for some reason this prick got to his nerve. The small laugh that he heard again was not the reason for his silly retort. He could practically feel his uncle glare at his side; he was going to get a good beating from him for this. All his musings ended when he heard the cry of a furious Queen Cersei Targeryen.
"You must be beheaded this instance for talking back to your prince in this horrendous manner. House stark must be punished too, for harboring such man." Few other faces would ever be more revengeful than the face of queen Cersei. Nevertheless this caused the great hall to be filled with shout of outrage from angry northern lords. And nobody, I mean nobody wanted to be in the room filled with angry northern lords. If not acted swiftly there would be no tables or chairs left in the hall. Before things got out of control Jon quickly made use of all his time in controlling Wildings and Dothrakhis.
"Enough"
Jon had raised his so that it could be heard over all the commotion of the northern lords but not so much to lose his composure. The commanding way in which he had said that made all the lords to turn towards him. Most of the looked surprise when they caught the source of the voice, even both his uncle looked astonished. Jon didn't have time to observe others reactions. He knew the lords thought that the voice came from lord stark and not from him. Some idiots' southern lords were still eyeing lord stark rather than Jon, still believing that he shouted the order. Till the time the hall was silent enough that he could hear is beating heart jon waited as he has always done. Calm as still water, the lesson from his Braavosi master ringing through his head.
" I am sure the queen didn't mean what she said. As she in no manner would imply to punish the house under its own roof. That too in front of all its loyal bannerman. As she know the loyalty of house stark and the honor of its lord, after all no other in Westeros have ever ruled a land as big and vast as the rest of the six kingdoms combined for thousands of years." Jon didn't have to pretend to signify these words, as all were true. He didn't have to act confident while saying it, as he was proud of house stark and his uncle for their just rule. House stark and north didn't get the respect it deserved from the rest of kingdoms. He felt a little sad as he too played a part in that misconception. He pushed his self harming thoughts aside and went through his calming words before the mad Queen could reply. His words seem to have the desired effect on both the sides. The northerners were pacified enough which was the point, while the southerners were confounded and angry at the same time which too was the point.
"As for the matter of the price 'wanting' my sword, his allegation thrown at me for stealing the sword is false."
He waited just enough so what he said reached the minds of the right people. Again he didn't wait for either the mad queen or son to shout.
"When I was traveling from Lys to Volantis I came across Harras Harlaw who was leading a ship full of slaves to slavers bay. When he saw my merchant ship he attacked us.."
"Ser Harras Harlaw I believe, he is a rare knight in iron island is he not, Jon snow?
This time the voice that interrupted jon belonged to princess Daenerys Targeryen, sister to the king. Jon again groan loudly, how big is this royal family. He was seeing this woman for the first time, the last time she had not traveled to the north with his brothers. Jon didn't pay much attention to her, but took his time to answer her question, and use it to properly examine the lords and ladies that were present, so he wouldn't be caught so off guard next time. Jon knew that Tywin Lannister and Olena Tyrell would be present as he himself suggested that to Tyrion and Sam.
Other than that both of the queen's daughters were present. Red viper and his sand snakes had came with princes Arianne Martell. Again he didn't waste any time in gauging their reaction to his trial. For a moment he rejoiced when he didn't find the cruel faces of Viserys and his own dog Allister Thorne. What were the qualities required to become a knight for these southerners was a whole different matter. But the little joy was quickly crushed when he saw the lunatic face of the master and his dog. As it happens this was going to be a big day. After getting an encouraging look from Arya he started again, hopefully to end it once and for all.
"As I was saying on my way to Volantis, Harras Harlow and his iron born raiders turned slavers attacked my merchant ship. Apparently Harlow owned a dept to someone, to get rid of the dept he became a slaver." Jon saw a question forming on the prince's mouth, before she could ask he continue as nothing has happened.
"Before you say that slaving is banned in Westeros, let me make it very clear that the king's law doesn't outlaw it if done outside Westeros. While the north have its own law regarding slavery and punishment of slavers regardless if done in other land, rest of the kingdom doesn't mind it. If you looked closely you would still find some lords practicing it. 'Ser' Harras was of them.
This time Jon waited to hear the uproar but as expected no one came forward. No one cared for slavers and slaving, not even the red faced Daenerys Targeryen.
"In the issuing skirmish between the merchant's men and the raiders, I killed some iron islanders that caught Harlow's eye. He halted the raiders and offered me a duel. A duel to death."
"why would he offer a lowly bastard like you to a duel? This is all a preposterous lie…"he didn't let the seething Queen cerise to continue as he unsheathed Longclaw. His action caused the Kingsguards to draw their own swords out. Jon chuckled a little internally when he saw all seven Kingsguards grim faces; they feared him even with their seven to one advantage. Jon had to try to contain his laughter when he saw the faces of Joffrey and Viserys. If only they knew what sword he carrying on his right side. The sound of drawing Valyrian steel from its sheath reverberated across the hall. All greedy eyes focused on the grey ripples on the blade.
"Prince Joffrey here can validate when I say that this sword here is the ancestral sword of house Mormont, last reported in the hands of Joer Mormont the lord commander of the nights watch. As his only son ran away from lord stark sword for selling poachers as slaves, Longclaw remained in his possession when he took the black, as lady Maege here is far better with a mace than a sword." The last statement caused lady Maege and few northerners to laugh.
"Jon snow is telling the truth. Joer had informed me that he had given his sword as gift to someone who had saved his life. He said it was in good northern hand. I believe his words now." Lady Maege said confidently from where she was eyeing Jon. Jon nodded to convey his gratitude for her support.
"As price Joffrey wants Nightfall, Harras wanted another Valerian steel sword. Harras challenged me to duel to earn Longclaw by paying the iron price. If he succeeded in killing me, Longclaw would become his. On the other hand if I won the islanders would leave my ship alone and the slaves on his ship become mine."
The atmosphere in the hall had changed as his words got registered its occupants. He didn't have to mention what happened at the duel and who won. Jon knew now was the time to end this unwarranted trial.
"As I won the sword from an iron islander by paying the iron price it belongs to me. The remaining iron islanders are witness to the whole exchange and duel. If I had stolen the sword, lord Rodrik Harlaw would have demanded a bounty on it, while demanding my head. I believe he know what went through on that day as he must have been informed by the raiders. Prince Joffrey can't have any of my swords as they belong to me just like Ice belong to lord stark and Heartsbane belong to lord Tarly. The crown doesn't own the heirlooms held by a house or in my case a person. If the crown seizes it for no reason other than 'wanting' them for themselves then that would imply stealing, also the houses these swords previously belonged to would feel slighted as their wishes were not taken seriously. Even more, there in no law regarding the exchanges of a house heirloom."
The silence prevailed in the hall as nobody threw any more tantrum or accusation on Jon. If they had he would have asked them to send ravens to Joer and lord Harlaw for confirmation. Jon felt like he had battled for three days, all for a prince hissy fit. As it happens Jon took this small victory as a opportunity to show the court that he was not a man to fiddle with.
"if that is all the royal family requires of me, I would take my leave." Without waiting for an answer he turned around to make his way out, passing by the prince dog who just grunted when he passed around him. On his way he caught Arya eyes filled with joy and awe in it.
Jon snow didn't saw that Arya was the not the only one who's respect he had earned at that time, just like Joffrey was the not the only one who's ire he had earned.
