Chapter 2: First Day At King's Landing

Robert was all smiles as he made his way to the courtyard with Barristan Selmy and Mandon Moore behind him as he came to stand beside Jon Arryn. The old Hand greeted Robert with a nod.

"My king," Arryn said with a smile.

Robert nodded to him before looking around with a sigh. "Took them long enough to get here."

"I'm sure they traveled with haste, your grace," Barristan assured. "Ser Jaime knows a kingsguard's place is at his king's side."

Robert smirked at the thought of Jaime grousing and groaning the whole time. "Hopefully he didn't take it out on the boy."

Barristan hoped the same. If he had to take the boy as squire then he would need to be around the other kingsguard, best if he wasn't wary of them before the boy even reached him.

To their shock when Jaime and Jon Snow made their way into the courtyard they did so wearing smiles, though Jon's was more reserved than the broad flash of whites across Jaime's face as he laughed. Once they spotted the welcoming group, Jon's eyes widened briefly, following Jaime to stand in front of Robert.

Jon made to kneel but Robert grabbed him and laughed as he looked him over. "Look at you!" The king turned to Jon Arryn, squeezing Jon's shoulder tightly. "He's Ned anew!"

Jon Arryn looked the boy over with a kind smile before nodding. "That he is."

Robert turned back to Jon, who looked a bit nervous to be embraced so quickly by the king. "Thank you, your grace."

"It's not a compliment boy," Robert said with a laugh. "Ned was the ugly one of us."

Jon smiled, saying without thinking, "Then he surely still is."

The others went wide eyed as Jon fought a wince and Jaime bit back a chuckle until Robert let out a bellowing laugh. "Good lad," Robert grabbed Jon's arm and felt his bicep with an approving nod. "You know how to wield a sword?"

"Yes, your grace," Jon nodded. "I was trained alongside Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy by Ser Rodrik Cassel."

"Hm, good I'm sure, but he's no Barristan the Bold." Turning to the kingsguard, Robert smacked Barristan's shoulder. "Take the day to show the boy around and get him settled." Robert left no room for argument as he walked off calling out, "Come, Lannister."

Jaime sighed, giving Jon a nod before following his king, leaving him with Jon Arryn and Barristan Selmy. "There are no spare rooms in the White Sword Tower," Jon Arryn explained, smiling so Jon suddenly noticed the man was missing some of his teeth, "but I've secured spare servants' quarters for you. Ser Barristan will show you them."

"Thank you, my lord," Jon said with a nod.

"If you need anything, ask," Arryn told him. "I'll do what I can for my namesake. I hope you do well here, Jon Snow."

"I'll do my best, my lord," Jon assured.

Once Jon Arryn departed, Jon turned to Ser Barristan who motioned to the bag across his torso. "I'll take you to your room to drop that off, then I'd like to take you to the yard and gauge where you are."

"Of course, Ser," Jon nodded.

Spotting the belt on his waist, Barristan motioned to the dagger as he led the boy toward his room. "Your father give you that for the road?"

Jon shook his head. "No. Ser Jaime took it from one of the bandits he killed."

Barristan looked to Jon. "Bandits?"

"We were on the kingsroad and stopped to camp for the night when four of them came upon us with daggers," Jon explained. "One grabbed me and held me at point, but Ser Jaime killed two others and while the third asked for his purse I slipped lose and made the bandit stab himself. Ser Jaime then slew them both and gave me the dagger for the road."

Barristan gave the boy another once over. The boy was twelve from what he understood, barely much older than he was when he joined the tourney at Blackhaven and yet had a hand in the death of a man who threatened his life. He was a few years older and already had a name for himself as a tourney knight when he took his first life.

Though weeks old by now he'd seen others shaken loose by lesser deeds. Men left weak when their lives were threatened or racked with regret over their part in the end of a life. Yet here this boy stood ready to face years at Barristan's call, coming to them with a smile at Jaime Lannister's side, something most rarely found. Where others looked down upon the kingsguard the boy had made him open up, earned the man's smile. Not a biting, smug one, but a true, fond smile the knight wore only while wielding a sword.

Once the boy had left his bag in his quarters Barristan took him to the yard where he disposed of his broken dagger and exchanged it for some spare armor and a blunted training sword. Taking one for himself he asked the boy to come and face him, and he gladly did.

He found that Jon was like a freshly mined gem. There was a shine of true talent, but it was raw and unpolished, waiting to be refined into something unbreakable. Jon told him he'd intended to go to the Wall before asking to come here, and surely the boy would outshine the untrained criminals sent there, but he would likely never be challenged to grow as he could.

The boy was a fighter, unwavering at moments, able to find every opening Barristan gave him and even two he hadn't intended. He was still growing and adjusting, but without refinement would lack finesse. Barristan had no doubt Jon may have been the best among those he knew, but left to the North his talent would go untested and never grow, leaving him like a the dragons that withered away because they were bound within the Dragonpit.

It was while they were in the yard he heard the laughter, glancing over to see princess Myrcella chasing the plump little prince Tommen through the Red Keep while Preston Greenfield and Arys Oakheart followed them. Jon only caught a glimpse of golden curls before they were out of sight again and he stumbled back as Barristan's sword hit his shield.

Myrcella was giggling as she chased Tommen up a staircase and along a platform above before her little brother came to a stop and clung to the railing. Blinking at his sudden stop she followed his gaze to see Barristan slashing at a dark haired boy in gray armor.

"Who's that?" Tommen asked, looking up to the kingsguard behind them.

They shared a look, stepping to the railing and watching Jon defend against Barristan's barrage before slashing at the older knight, his sword bouncing off his white shield. They watched him take the momentum of his deflected sword and turn, intending to strike Barristan's side, but the Lord Commander brought his sword down to parry the strike. When Jon tried to turn back and swing overhead, he found Barristan's sword aimed at his chest and sighed, backing away to try again.

"That must Barristan's new squire," said Arys Oakheart. "A bastard son of your father's friend from the North."

Myrcella frowned as she watched the boy swing at Barristan, who blocked or deflected them all. Once Barristan hit him again, she saw the boy grab the sword in his shield hand and brush a hand through his hair and wipe at the sweat on his brow. He was leaner than the old knight, lacking the smile her uncle wore when he wielded a sword, instead seeming sullen and focused.

Tommen blinked watching the boy before looking to Myrcella and asking quietly, "What's a bastard?"

"It means his parents weren't married," she said carefully.

Tommen nodded as though he completely understood, turning back to look at where Jon managed to parry one of Barristan's strikes, but was knocked aside by a shield before he could riposte. Tommen laughed at how Jon stumbled but stayed on his feet, turning to charge Barristan, slashing at the older man.

"Can we play with him?" asked Tommen.

Myrcella watched them for a moment before squeezing her brother's shoulder. "They look busy. Maybe tomorrow."

When Myrcella brought her brother to supper that night she sat across from her mother and Joffrey, who only seemed interested in them when their father entered and made his way to the table.

"Hello father," Joffrey said, earning a nod from the king.

Cersei saw Jaime leaving to guard the door when she turned to Robert. "Where's Ser Barristan?"

"Still in the yards with his new squire," Robert said with a laugh. "Boy's going to age him a dozen years by the time he knights the lad."

"We saw him," Tommen said quietly, looking to his father. "Barstan was-"

"Barristan," Myrcella corrected, as though she were his mother.

Tommen glanced at her. "Barristan was fighting the bastard."

Joffrey laughed while Cersei's brow knit. "His squire's a bastard?"

"Ned's bastard," Robert nodded. "He wanted to ward him in the Vale but I told him he could squire the boy here."

"That's what you sent Jaime for?" Cersei asked with a glare. "To fetch some bastard from the North?"

"Ned's bastard," he corrected, meeting her glare. "And he's my guard. I'll have him wipe my ass if I so please."

Cersei wanted to say more, but hearing Joffrey laugh turned back to her plate to finish eating.

"Is he our guard too?" Tommen asked looking warily from his mother to his father.

"As good as," Robert nodded. "Boy's training to be a knight like the rest. If he's half the man his father is, half as honorable as Ned, then he'll be a kingsguard in a few years if he doesn't want me to legitimize him and let him make his own house."

"You'd do that for a bastard?" Joffrey asked with a scoff.

"I'd do it for my friend's son," he told his son. "The man marched at my side through two wars. Least I can do is let his bastard have a chance to gain some honor."

"How long will he be here?" Cersei asked.

"As long as I please," Robert snapped back. "As long as it takes for him to make his father proud."

While the royal family ate in the Red Keep Barristan took Jon out to Flea Bottom and treated him to a warm meal. He had better manners than most bastards, but it might've been expected from one raised within the halls of a lord's house.

"Have you spent time in the stables? The armory? A forge?"

"Only little," Jon answered. "But I can maintain a horse and armor well enough."

"Can you read or write?"

"Both."

Barristan nodded. "You're squired to a kingsguard which means you'll be guarding the king and his family as well. You'll need to know the city if you're to watch it's dark corners and run errands for me in a timely manner. At least once a sennight you'll roam the city until you know it better than you ever did Winterfell."

Watching the boy listening intently, Barristan smiled. "You'll find a sword around your waist when you've earned it. Be armored when you've earned it. Aye?"

"Aye, Ser," Jon nodded.

"Do you follow the Seven?" asked Barristan.

Jon frowned. "No, Ser. I keep the Old Gods."

Barristan sat back, taking a drink. "Did you not have a sept at Winterfell?"

Jon sat up, seeming hesitant to answer. "We did. It… belonged to Lady Stark. I stayed away from it. Do I have to follow them now?

"No," Barristan said with a laugh. "You're free to keep your gods, though I'd suggest you look into the Seven. Most here follow them, or at least claim to."

"I don't have to convert to be knighted?" Jon asked with relief, having planned to fake it if he had to.

"All that matters is who knights you," said Barristan. "Of course, you could always not be knighted. Many men squire but never take a knighthood, even when they've earned it."

"Why wouldn't they?"

"Being a knight means you're in charge of buying your own equipment, arming yourself for tournaments and the like," explained Barristan. "Many find it too high a cost, so stay a squire. Being a knight also means committing to a life bound to the sword or lance. Plenty of lords have squired but refuse knighthood to remain a lord if they feel incapable of fulfilling the oaths of a knight."

"So I can squire and then… stop?" Jon asked, having not thought of that.

"If you don't feel capable of being a knight," Barristan nodded. "Though from the little I've seen I doubt you'll have much trouble if you do as I say."

After letting the boy turn in, Barristan woke early the next day to find the boy at his door, ready to help him into his armor for the day.

"We'll have to buy you some new clothes," Barristan said noting the boy's worn leather jerkin. Most of his clothes were dark grays and browns, simple enough but also clearly old and well worn enough he could imagine the queen making a fuss about him looking poor.

"I-I'm sorry, Ser," Jon said looking thrown off by the comment, unsure of what was wrong with his clothes.

"You'll be around the royal family," Barristan said patting Jon's shoulder. "It's fine for now."

Jon followed Barristan through the castle, eventually coming to corridor where they found another kingsguard outside a door. Boros Blount gave a gruff greeting to the Lord Commander before taking off, nearly shoving Jon while Barristan took his place beside the door.

It was hours before Robert came out of his room and Jon followed Barristan following him to a hall where he joined his family to break fast. It wasn't until he was sat and drinking that he noticed Jon stood off beside Barristan and a smile took his face.

"Snow," Robert called out, "come sit and eat." Jon's brow rose as Cersei and Joffrey shot the king confused looked. Seeing the boy's hesitation, Robert waved his hand. "Come, your king demands it."

With a glance back to Barristan, who gave him a look telling him to go, Jon made his way toward the table. A servant brought him a chair and placed it where Robert pointed next to Tommen. "Thank you, your grace," Jon said bowing his head as a plate was set before him.

To Robert's right sat the queen, who might have been the most beautiful women he ever saw with golden hair, emerald eyes and a slender figure, her fair skin wrapped in crimson silks, yet her glowering diminished it some. At her side sat the eldest prince, who looked almost like a girl with long blonde girls and eyes that matched his mother with lips bent in a sneer.

Sat to her father's left was princess Myrcella, a pretty girl surely destined to become a beauty. She had long golden curls framing her face, and when her emerald eyes met Jon's and she flashed him a brief welcoming smile he was sure she'd come to surpass her mother in time.

To Jon's right, sat opposite Joffrey, was the four year old prince who shared their golden curls and emerald eyes with a round, cherubic face. It seemed none of the king's children inherited anything from him.

"Hello," Tommen said looking to the dark haired boy.

"Good morning, Prince Tommen," Jon said with a small smile.

"What's your name?" asked Tommen.

"Jon Snow."

"Are you really a bastard?" Tommen asked tilting his head.

Joffrey laughed while Cersei's examining gaze narrowed and Robert sighed. Jon frowned slightly before nodding. "I am."

"Not many bastards get to dine with royalty," Joffrey said raising his chin and smirking.

Jon glanced at him before nodding. "Aye, your grace."

"How's he seem, Barristan?" Robert asked, turning to look at the Lord Commander of his kingsguard.

The knight stepped forward. "Ready to be refined, your grace." The others all looked to Barristan while Myrcella looked from the knight to Jon, who looked down. "He rides well enough, but he'll need training with the lance. As for the sword, he has talent. It's raw, but in time, with training and experience I'd say he'll give Ser Jaime a challenge."

From the corner Jaime scoffed while Robert laughed. Jon looked down in embarrassment before glancing up and noticing he was being watched by the princess.

"Do as he says," Robert said looking to Jon, "and it won't be long before you're taking winner's purses from sour knights and have women begging you to crown them Queen of Love and Beauty."

Joffrey snorted. "Some might not want it from a bastard."

"If he's a knight it wouldn't matter," Myrcella said shaking her head.

Robert laughed, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder, earning a beaming smile from her. "She has the right of it. Women don't care about bastards or nobles as much as they care about winners and riches!"

"Not all women are whores you can pay to ignore your faults," Cersei said with a glance to Robert.

Robert shot her a glare. "If only they were."

Sat in tense silence as he finished his meal, Jon couldn't help but wonder if maybe bastards were lucky not to eat with royalty if this is what it was like.


AN:

I feel like Jon shines so well at the Wall only because he's surrounded by people who are generally untrained, so even mediocre swordsman do well there. My thinking is if Jon does really well there when he likely trained with the same three or four people for years, none of whom are especially good, then if he is forced to push himself he'll grow. Pair it with his observational skills and he's got a lot of potential.

I'm hoping to convey how in the books Myrcella and Tommen basically didn't exist because they weren't paid attention. Cersei and Robert all but ignore them, to the point Myrcella is the one correcting Tommen's speech. And stuff will likely be kind of slow with her and Jon since she's only around eight here and will only be a year younger than Sansa when things start reaching the books.