A/N Hello everyone, we have finally arrived at the King's visit. This is also the final Markus chapter before I start to mix in some other POVs.

Just a heads up, in this chapter and those that follow, I won't simply be going through every event from the books in a different POV, I don't see too much of a point in doing that and I feel like too many OC stories focus too much on just rewriting every single chapter in the book from their character's perspective.

Enjoy, and review if you like.

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Winterfell Archery Range, Mid-day

As I walk in to the archery range, it is unsurprisingly empty, with the household guards having their hands full with the King's visit and Ser Rodrik cancelling lessons for the day for the recruits.

Other than perhaps Theon, I was the only one in Winterfell who spent more time then required practicing my bowmanship. I did so because it was expected of me, Theon simply because he liked the concept of being better than people at something.

While I didn't have the same love for archery as I did swordplay, I still admired it in it's own way. The solitude of it, the repetition, sometimes I could lose myself in it and spend hours mindlessly shooting at targets. It was an unspoken rule not to interrupt me while I was in such a state. However it appeared the new arrivals did not yet hear of it.

"I think he's dead," I heard some unknown voice jest over my shoulder after my fourth or fifth shot. Mildly annoyed, I glanced to where I thought the man stood to see if I recognized him from the King's entry earlier, and sure enough I did.

Standing a few yards behind me and approaching was none other than Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard, brother to the Queen. Dressed in his golden armor that matched his flowing golden hair and a devious smirk that would make Greyjoy look like a blushing maiden in comparison. I put down my bow and turned, facing him completely and raise an eyebrow at him, beckoning him to speak.

Lannister simply widens his smirk before finally speaking, "You are Markus, correct?", without waiting for an answer he presses on, "Finnick Burke's son? 'Finnick the Fated'" he mocks lightly, "It's quite the name."

"I hardly think you are one to talk about monikers, Kingslayer." I reply evenly. He laughs but otherwise ignores my comment.

"You do know where he got his name I assume?" He asks me rhetorically with a hint of a smirk. What is this fool getting at?

"Of course," I start tensely before starting again, "I'm sure you know it much more vividly than me, Ser. You were in King's Landing at the time were you not?" It appears I stuck a nerve with the knight because all amusement disappeared from his face, leaving only a look of dread strongly masked by false indifference.

"Indeed I was there," the Lannister stated as his unfocused eyes drifted off into the distance before becoming hard, "I was in the throne room when Brandon Stark strangled himself as his father burnt, I was in the throne room when Aerys ordered all of the men who followed him to the Red Keep burnt, I was in the throne room when every one of your fathers friends were murdered, and where was your father? Laying in a sickbed at Riverrun." Ser Jaime paused for a moment, still looking off into the distance, before regaining his composure and starting again, "If not for a bad case of flu your father would be dead with the rest of them, Finnick the Fated indeed."

Ser Jaime was silent again, and not appearing to be waiting for a reply but I felt the need to grant him one anyways. "You know," I start lightly, "father hates the name more than anything else in this world. He says it is a constant reminder of his greatest failure. I suppose he has that in common with you."

"No he does not," he says venomously, "the only thing I regret about killing the Mad King is that I didn't do it sooner."

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After our initial conversation and some of the frost between us thawed, Ser Jaime and I got along quite well. I spared with him for a few matches in which he beat me handily every single time. However after the fact he made a comment about how I wasn't "completely shit" and truth be told I think that can be considered high praise from a man of the Kingsguard. After the two of us finished in the tillyard, we still had time to spare before the arrival feast so Jaime decided to introduce me to his little brother. We found Lord Tyrion in his room drinking some wine, he afforded to share and well….

"AND here I am, running as fast as I can through this keep trying to get away, half naked and hungover as a sailor the morning after payday," as I'm telling the story I can barely contain myself whereas the brothers are making no effort to, Tyrion is laughing so hard he is choking on his wine and Jaime has his head down laughing into the table, "and who do I run into? Greatjon fucking Umber! The Lord of the Castle himself!" I start to laugh just thinking about what happened next.

"Now I'm not sure if you two have ever met Lord Umber, but let me tell you the man earned his name. The man could crush my skull like it was one of your southern fruit cakes with two fingers" I say expressively with exaggerated hand motions, "and he is simply staring me down right now looking at me like I'm a fucking idiot. Like 'what in the name of the gods is this scrawny little kid doing running around Last Hearth in nothing but his underclothes?' I swear to the old gods and the new the man must of thought I was crazy" I decide to take another jug of wine before continuing to give the Lannisters a chance to catch their breath.

"So here we are, and the man is about to ask me what exactly I am doing and before he even opens his mouth I already have some bullshit story on my tongue but there is no use because before he even asks the steward finally catches up to me, and he is livid. In one hand he has my dress shirt, and the other a dagger that he looks ready to stab me with and before a word is spoken by anyone you could just see The Greatjon connecting the dots in his head." Ser Jaime looks ready to fall out of his chair at this point and Tyrion is not far behind him.

"And at that point Lord Umber lets out the loudest laugh I've ever heard in my life and then gives me a pat on the back," I finish with a smirk and a laugh, "here I was thinking I was going to get my ass handed to me by a half giant but the man is congratulating me and giving me a stack of coins," I start laughing not just because reminiscing the story but the look on their faces, "apparently there was a bet going around Last Hearth for months about who would be the man to take the girl's maidenhead and here I come and do it my first night there."

"Unbelievable" Ser Jaime mumbles with a laugh under his breath as his brother silently agrees with him, shaking his head at me.

After a moment Lord Tyrion smirks at me and asks "Was the girl worth the trouble?" Causing to to slyly smile back before answering.

"Let's just say that was not the last time I had her during my stay," I raise my glass as I finish.

"What were you doing at the Last Hearth anyways?" one of the brothers asks me, to be honest I'm not quite sure which one, only thing I am certain of at this very moment is that this southern wine is fantastic.

"On my way to visit my Uncle Raymond at the Wall."

"Ah yes the Night's Watch… your uncle is a part of that noble brotherhood?" Ser Jaime asks mockingly.

I stop for a moment before responding, "watch your tone Ser, really your two callings are more similar than different. You simply have better weather and more comfortable beds."

Before The Kingslayer gets a chance to retort his brother says "don't worry boy, the similarities are the root of his bitterness."

Before I can consider Tyrion's words Ser Jaime jumps in "That's not true at all dear brother, The Kingsguard is a great honor and I am grateful to be apart of such a historic order. Do you have any interest in becoming a member, Markus? You certainly have the potential, and I would certainly enjoy your company in favor of one of my current brothers."

"I second that," starts Tyrion, "are you any good with a lance? You might be able to make a true name for yourself."

As soon as he asks I can't help but burst out with laughter, "sadly my Lord I truly doubt I'll make a name for myself as a rider in the tilts. On my good days I can just barely keep myself in the saddle." I finish with a smile and a sip of my drink.

Before our conversation gets a chance to continue I hear the door slam open and quickly turn behind me to see the culprit. And before my eyes, none other than the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms is gracefully marching into the room with a sharp look in her eyes, she spies her brothers and instantly she begins to spit venom. "There you two idiots are. Have you any idea the time? The feast is about to start! Wait a minute are you drunk?" she asks the final question as she stops next to us and takes a closer look, seeing the goblets of wine each of us is nursing.

Ser Jaime smiles goofily before replying, "of course not dear sister, we've had but a few cups while getting to know our new friend," he finishes pointing at me. Queen Cersei quickly glances at me and does an uninterested one over.

"The Burke boy?" she asks no one in particular while arching an eyebrow at me. Unsure of how I should respond to the Queen I simply nod. "Why don't you join the feast, I have matters to attend to with my brothers." as she finishes she turns her glare back to her brothers causing them both to drunkenly laugh. Deciding it's in my best interest not to be in the room when she goes off on them I retreat out of there as fast as possible before heading to the dinning hall.

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When I enter the feast is already in full swing though the Starks and Royal family have yet to make their entrance yet. I make to sit next to Theon and as I do he turns and looks at me with his signature grin. "There you are! Where in seven hells have you been all day? I got something to tell you."

"None of your fucking business where I've been." I reply with a grunt, causing his smirk to widen even more than usual.

"You're drunk! Let me guess you're drowning your sorrows after hearing the news about Sansa?"

He really must be trying to piss me off, I guess with Jon sitting with the hedge knights he must turn his attention to someone else, "actually I haven't you squid prick. I hope she lives a long and happy life with the blond dickhead." I finish with a snarl before pouring myself some ale. "What was it you wanted to tell me?" I change the subject before I end up punching him.

"I overheard Lord Stark and the Maester talking after the King arrived," Theon paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "it appears he's summoning your father to Winterfell. Any guesses what that's about?"

Just when I thought my life couldn't get any worse, my father coming to Winterfell. "I'm sure they are just trying to figure out what to do with my sorry ass once Lord Stark becomes hand."

"You have any ideas what you are going to do?" Theon asks somewhat seriously.

It's quite the question really, truth be told I've never thought of what happens next. Other than the pipe dream of Sansa finally realizing I'm everything she's ever wanted and the two of us running away together. "I haven't the slightest idea. Maybe go east and live as a sellsword like my Uncle Geralt, explore the ruins of Old Valyria, visit the wonders of the world, I might even go and join the Night's Watch like Jon." as I finish my last point the two of us look at each other before laughing.

"Markus Burke going celibate, that'll be the day!" Theon yells still laughing.

After we quiet down a little bit I start again, "you know something, today Jaime Lannister asked me if I had an interest in being in the kingsguard."

This surprised Theon a lot, "did he offer to train you? Because that's hardly an offer you can refuse. Think of all those southern girls swooning over your white cloak."

This gets a chuckle out of me before I respond, "fair enough but I'm still not sure about the offer. Call me a romantic sap but something doesn't sit well with me about having to watch the girl I've loved for years get her happily ever after with someone else."

Before Theon gets the chance to respond the guests of honor finally arrive to the sounds of cheers from all in the crowd. I laugh and cheer along with the rest of them as I watch Robb arm and arm with the obviously enchanted princess and Arya's obvious annoyance as she walks with prince Tommen however as I watch Lady Sansa with her betrothed, the crown prince, I can't help but grow quiet before reaching for my drink. I'm going to get right and royally pissed tonight.

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A/N Alright here it is. I've had the first scene on my computer for a while now but the rest I just wrote up this weekend. I'm sure there are mistakes so just message me if you find any and I'll fix them up.

I tried to do a little bit with some background on some "non Markus" Burke family members this chapter, mainly his father obviously, because as I've said before this story won't JUST be Markus POV he just so happens to be where the action is at the moment.