4th Month of 298 A.C. King's Landing
Jon Snow
King's Landing was big, very, very big, as it should be, it was the capital of the seven kingdoms, of a united Westeros, and it was the symbol of all that was good about the Targaryen conquest. There was grandeur and promise within it, and the Baratheon rule of the city had only seen that grow, already Jon had seen fetes and plays whilst within the city, and he had travelled through the city exploring things and seeing more and more. He was very happy to have come to King's Landing, as for him it felt as though he was finally getting the chance to spread his wings, and to see the things that might otherwise have been denied to him. That his father had tried to prevent him from coming to King's Landing angered him greatly, he wanted to know who his father thought he was to prevent Jon the chance to come and explore all these great things. His father, the thought angered Jon more and more with every passing day, his father was not the great man that he had grown up thinking him to be, no his father was a man who put far too much stock in duty and little in living. Jon could see that by how he spent little time with Jon or his sisters, and instead devoted almost every ounce of his time to the council and the fat oaf that was king. The king was not worth some much time in Jon's opinion, and yet if he said such a thing to his father, his father might well reprimand him and refuse to do anything with him, and so Jon kept silent.
The conversation he and the prince as well as their friends had overheard at Darry had been something that had played on Jon's mind quite a bit recently, he could not explain why but there was something about it that just seemed strange. The whole tone of that conversation seemed as though the people there were not afraid of being overheard, even though they were speaking about things that to Jon's mind bordered on treason. He was not entirely sure what it was, but whatever the thought was that was floating through his mind it refused to go away. Of course, he was glad that he was not the only one who thought this, for the prince had summoned him and the rest of his retinue to meet with him and then they had traversed down to the crypts where the dragon skulls had been kept when King Robert had ascended the throne, keeping such things in the dark was a crime, and Jon was glad the others agreed. Now though attention was turning back to that conversation.
"The conversation we heard at Darry has been playing on my mind quite a bit over the past few days." the prince says, his voice soft. "I do not know quite what it was that we heard, but I think that it is something that is most definitely worth considering and exploring in more detail. Lucas, what have you been able to find out?"
Lucas Blackwood, second in line to Raventree Hall and a good man speaks then. "I spoke with my father before we left from Darry, and he told me that Ser Raymun spent some time travelling the riverlands, the northern riverlands as it were when Jon Arryn was alive. It seems that the man was meeting with various nobles who had belonged to an order in the past."
"Order?" Jon asks. "What order?"
Lucas looks at him and responds. "The Order of the Dragon. It seems that there was some sort of order developed during the reign of either King Aegon the Fifth, or before, that was devoted to ensuring the protection of the Targaryen family from threats both within and without the royal family."
"Well it clearly didn't do so well then did it?" Jon responds, earning a laugh from the group.
"Aye, that is true, and I think the reason for that was that the order fell into disrepute, or it began bickering with themselves. There was something that happened during the reign of King Jaehaerys that caused the order to fall about itself and argue." Lucas responds.
"Which Jaehaerys?" the prince asks.
"The second one." Lucas responds.
"He only reigned for three years though, and he was not much of a king, what could he have done or experienced that would have forced the order to fall in on itself?" Jon asks.
"The war of the ninepenny kings was during his reign. And he did not fight during that war. No he sent his Goodbrother Lord Ormund to command the army, and his son went as well. But whatever happened during his reign, it was enough to cause divisions during King Aerys reign." Lucas responds looking hesitatingly at the prince.
"What happened then?" the prince asks. "You can speak freely Lucas."
Lucas swallows then. "Your grandsire my prince. Lord Tywin was named hand of the king and it seems the order was destroyed in secret."
"What do you mean?" the prince asks, his voice filled with curiosity.
"There were numerous arrests that were made during the early years of King Aerys' reign, none of them are really recorded, but the people arrested were order members. It seems Lord Tywin played in his friend's paranoia about the order, and had it destroyed." Lucas says.
"So it was something the Lord of the Rock did to increase his own power?" Bryce asks sounding angry.
The prince looks at Bryce and then says. "It would seem so. We all know our history do we not? My grandsire became King Aerys right hand, he was as Orys was to the conqueror, but then their relationship soured for some reason or the other." the prince looks at Lucas then. "So you think that whatever happened then, Darry is trying to bring the order back?"
Lucas nods. "Aye, I think so my prince. I think he is trying to do something of that nature, he rode out the same day we did from Darry with his son, and he would not say where he was going."
Jon speaks then. "But then, is he not risking all, for something that might be a fabled dream? Viserys Targaryen is known as the beggar king for a reason. No sane person would want to support him, he has nothing to offer them, and he has not the means to add to his promises."
"If he gets support within the realm, then there might be a chance that some outsiders might support him." Lucas counters.
"But who would dare support the son of the mad king?" Jon argues. "The boy was known as showing some signs of his father's madness before he fled, and besides, people still remember what the mad king did. Why else would there be so little attention paid to the dragons?"
"People have memories though, memories of what it was like before the rebellion." Waymar says speaking for the first time.
"What do you mean by that?" the prince asks.
Waymar looks slightly nervous now, and then he swallows and says. "Begging your pardon my prince, but, there are some within the realm who believe things were better under the Targaryens than they are now. It is the view of old being better than the new that is all."
Jon looks at the prince and sees him sigh. "Aye that is true, a shame that the people can be quite foolish. I have heard it told that the beggar king has sold his sister off to some Horselord, the Dothraki like fucking their own horses. I feel sorry for the girl really."
"Do you think they will ever come to Westeros?" Tyrek asks.
"No," Jon says instantly, some old knowledge from his lessons with maester Luwin coming to the fore in his head. "They are scared of the sea, they believe it is cursed or some backward nonsense."
The prince speaks then. "Aye, it seems the beggar king has been swindled out of his own fortune there. He will never sit the throne, not for as long as his sister is married to a horsefucker. We had best put that thought behind us, still the thought of that conversation is a nagging worry."
Jon looks at the prince and sees him stroking Ghost's fur, Jon feels a strange tingling sensation run down him at that. "Why? Do you think it might mean something my prince?" he hears himself asking.
The prince looks at him then. "Everything no matter how small has some meaning or the other Jon, never forget that. There is something important happening here, and there was a reason for our discovering that conversation. I just do not know what it is yet."
Jon nods, and then Lucas speaks. "Do you want me to keep looking my prince?"
The prince shakes his head. "No, not for the time being. We have gathered as much as we can know now. There is little more that can be done for the time being. Now, I hear that Margaery Tyrell is coming to court, for some function or the other. That should be quite fun eh?"
"She's blatantly coming to try and charm you my prince." Tyrek responds smiling.
"Oh aye, she's been after you for some time my prince. Ever since you saw her at the nameday tourney I think." Waymar says.
Jon looks at the prince then and asks. "Isn't she a few years older than you my prince?"
The prince nods. "Aye, around two or three I think. But it makes no matter, she wants to be queen, or at least that is what I have been led to believe. Of course, I am betrothed to your sister, therefore what she wants can never happen, but that does not mean I cannot have a bit of fun with her no?"
Jon feels slightly uncomfortable at that, he does not know why, but he has never appreciated the thought of having 'fun' with any woman who was not his wife, it just doesn't seem right. But of course he would never say such a thing to the prince and so he merely nods. "Of course my prince."
The prince fixes Jon with an appraising gaze, his hands still stroking Ghost's fur, and Jon feels that tingling sensation grow within him. "You do not agree do you Jon?"
Jon does not know what to say so he remains silent, feeling the tingling sensation grow ever stronger. "How would you feel, if I told you that by doing what I am doing, I am ensuring the security of my family of us all?"
"I would want to know how you think so." Jon responds his voice coming out strained.
The prince continues stroking Ghost. "Well, you see the Lady Margaery and her family are known for their scheming and plotting, and furthermore they want something, everyone always wants something from someone. Therefore, by flirting with her and playing with her emotions, I can find out what I need to ensure my family and my friends are protected. You see the Tyrells will stop at nothing to get what they want. You have heard of the bloody scourging have you not?"
"Yes." Jon whispers.
"Well, the scourging was just the beginning of what the Tyrells are capable of doing, I cannot allow that to happen. You know what my father is, you know how careless he is. The Tyrells control my uncle Renly, someone must make sure that whatever it is they are planning, it is kept in check and controlled, otherwise there would be chaos, untold chaos within the realm. And chaos is bad, it is always bad, for death comes in chaos. Deaths of innocents, and you would not want that now would you?" the prince responds.
"No I would not." Jon responds, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Neither do I." the prince responds.
