The Sword Of The Morning
Kings Landing – 300 A.L
"It's bigger than I thought" thought Jon as Kings Landing came into view in the distance from the kings road.
The city was huge with hundreds of buildings stretching across it. The power struggle and class system was evident just by looking at Kings Landing. The Red Keeps stood in all it's glory at the top of Aegon's Hill looking out over the smaller buildings below the keep and the shacks/slums of Flea Bottom.
"How do a million people live here?" said Jon to Arianne who was riding next to him.
"Who knows, but I wouldn't fancy living here, 1 million people crammed into one city living in poverty may appeal to some, but not to me, for that is not a life would wish on anyone" said Arianne.
"Bet the brothel's and inns are good for business though, a million people can help that" said Jon.
"Must be, Sansa speaking to you yet?" said Arianne.
Jon frowned.
"No, not yet, I don't blame her though, she loved that direwolf, the Queen got her revenge though" said Jon solemnly.
"Give her time Jon, she won't hate you forever" said Arianne.
"I doubt she'll pay me much mind any more, she'll be queen like she always wanted, like her Mother wanted, me, I'm juts the son of her Father's old lover, the one person her Mother hates more than ever" said Jon.
"Then that is her loss, you're her brother remember, she will remember that in time" said Arianne.
"Aye we are kin, but she is her Mother's child Ari, she has always been distant with me, Lady Stark probably told her all kinds of lies about me and my Mother, she's jealous of my Mother for having my Father's love, and me being older than her precious heir makes it even worse" said Jon.
"She's worried your Father will go to be with your Mother or that your Father will disregard Robb and name you heir instead?" said Arianne.
"Both" said Jon.
"I'm guessing nothing your Father says will change anything" said Arianne frowning.
"No, you know what some of these southern women are like, status is the most important attribute in a person, she no doubt hates bastards and whores as well" said Jon.
"Well I hope she never visits Dorne then, she would run screaming out of the gates at the sight of all the bastards and whores" said Arianne.
Jon laughed.
The party approached the gates to the Market district when an overwhelming smell met their nostrils.
"God, the smell of shit is even worse than my uncle said it would be" said Arianne wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"How do people live like this, hopefully the Red Keep is immune to the smell" said Jon.
"Their used to it I suppose" said Arianne.
The party arrived in the courtyard of the Red Keep half an hour later.
Jon and Arianne joined the Stark party when a messenger approached his Father.
"Lord Stark, the small council has requested your presence" said the messenger.
Ned nodded.
"Jon, Arianne will you help Jory and the others take all our stuff up to the rooms" said Ned.
"Yes Father" said Jon nodding.
"Perhaps you'd like to change into something more suitable Lord Stark" said the messenger looking at Ned's leathers and fur in silent insult.
Ned removed his gloves and stood still.
"Very well then, follow me" said the messenger walking back into the keep.
Ned walked after him.
Jon and Arianne walked up to the 26 year old Jory Cassel with shoulder length brown hair dressed in brown leathers with his sword at his hip.
"Come on Jory, the quicker were done, the quicker we can find a good mug of ale" said Jon.
Jory laughed at him.
"Jon, you and Princess Arianne take the girls to their rooms in Maegor's Holdfast, we'll handle all of the trunks" said Jory.
Jon and Arianne walked over to Sansa and Arya and helped them down from the wagon they were riding in with Septa Mordane.
"Thank's Jon" said Arya.
"Arya Stark, you must address him in his full title like a proper lady would" scolded Septa Mordane.
"Its quite all right Septa, we are family, there is no need for such formalities amongst family" said Jon.
Septa Mordane looked shocked but did not say any more.
"Sansa, Arya, if you will accompany us, Septa Mordane, I believe Jory would like your help with the ladies trunks" said Jon.
"Yes, Lord Dayne" said Septa Mordane.
Jon and Arianne set off towards Maegor's Holdfast with Sansa and Arya in tow.
They arrived at Arya's room first.
"I'll see you soon big brother" said Arya walking into her room and closing the door.
Jon and Arianne then took Sansa to her room.
Sansa just ignored Jon and gave Arianne a hug before entering her room.
"Sansa, can I have a word please" said Jon.
"Sorry M'Lord, I'm rather busy" said Sansa icily before closing her door.
Jon frowned but Arianne placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Jon, go and find our rooms, I'll talk to her, see if I can get her to see some sense" said Arianne.
Jon smiled.
"Thanks love" said Jon.
"Any time" said Arianne giving him a peck on the cheek.
Arianne knocked on the door as Jon walked away.
"Sansa, its Arianne, can I come in please" said Arianne.
The door opened with Sansa stood in the doorway.
"Come in" said Sansa stepping aside.
Arianne stepped inside and stood near the door while Sansa sat on her bed.
"Sansa, I think you know why I'm here" said Arianne.
"I'm not saying anything to Jon" said Sansa.
"Sansa, don't you think you're being too hard on him?" said Arianne.
"No, he took Lady from me, he hurt me by doing that" said Sansa.
"You know much that hurt him as well Sansa, he hated doing that, he hates that he took Lady from you, he hates that you won't talk to him" said Arianne.
"He does" said Sansa.
"Yes" said Arianne.
Sansa stayed silent for a few moments.
"Good" said Sansa.
Arianne frowned.
"Do you even care Sansa, do you care about how much this is hurting him?" said Arianne.
"He's not the only one who is hurt" said Sansa.
"Neither are you" said Arianne.
Both stayed silent for a few moments.
"Sansa, why did you lie about what happened down by the lake that day?" said Arianne.
Sansa looked shocked.
"I didn't" said Sansa.
"You did, Arya was right about the Prince attacking them, why didn't you just say what really happened, you saw the whole thing Sansa, why didn't you say anything" said Arianne.
"They attacked Joffrey" said Sansa in denial.
"They were playing with sticks, from what I heard Joffrey held a sword to that poor butcher' boys face" said Arianne.
"She shouldn't have been fighting with sticks, proper ladies don't fight with sticks or swords" said Sansa.
"Sansa, you and your sister are very different people, just because you don't do things like that, doesn't mean that Arya shouldn't be allowed to do those things, your being harsh on her" said Arianne.
"What would the Prince think of her if he saw her acting like that, what would he think of our family?" said Sansa.
"Well from what Jon told me, he doesn't seem to hold the Starks or the North in any high regard, he spent all his time in Winterfell complaining, not to mention he insulted Ser Rodrik when he forbade the him from using his sword in a practice ring" said Arianne.
"Why should he deny the Prince what he wants, he is a Prince after all" said Sansa.
"What if he hurt any of your brothers by doing that?" said Arianne.
"He wouldn't have, he would've made sure not to hurt them" said Sansa.
"He didn't look like he was being careful to me, if Jon wasn't such a good swordsman then he would've been hurt, Jon was the careful one" said Arianne.
"No, Joffrey told me he was being careful" said Sansa.
"And do you believe him?" said Arianne.
"Yes, I love him, I will be his queen one day, we'll have lots of beautiful children, I love him more than anything" said Sansa seriously.
Arianne sighed.
"Sansa, you barely know him, how can you say your in love with him?" said Arianne.
"Because I am" said Sansa.
"Sansa, take it from someone who is actually in love, you don't fall in love with people you barely know, I didn't fall in love with Jon for years until after we met, how can you say you are in love with him when you barely know him" said Arianne.
There was a knock at the door.
"Lady Sansa, its Septa Mordane, may I bring your trunk in?" said Septa Mordane.
"Yes, come on in, you may leave now Princess, I need to unpack" said Sansa.
The door opened.
Septa Mordane and two Stark guards entered bringing Sansa's trunks with them.
"Very well, but at least talk to Jon, he's your brother, and the closest one to Kings Landing, unless you begin talking to him he may choose never to come back and see you or Arya once we leave, you don't want that do you" said Arianne walking out of the door.
She asked one of the Stark guards where hers and Jon's rooms were. The guard told her they were two doors down the hall.
After thanking him she made her way over to her room where she found the door open with Jon unpacking her small clothes.
She smiled and walked into the room quietly closing the door behind her.
"I hope that, I won't be missing any of those in the morning" said Arianne causing Jon to turn around.
"Well given that I unpacked your clothes, you can unpack mine for me" said Jon smirking.
"Oh really, and where will I put them M'Lord" said Arianne pretending to sound insulted.
"There is plenty of space in this wardrobe for my clothes as well" said Jon.
"Well that being said, we are not wed yet, what will people think of us, a young maiden sleeping in the rooms of a rather attractive young Lord?" said Arianne mockingly.
"They can think what they like, I care not" said Jon.
Arianne chuckled.
"How did your talk with Sansa go" said Jon.
"Not well, she's convinced herself that she loves Joffrey, she wouldn't listen to me when I told her about you, I'm sorry Jon" said Arianne.
"Don't apologise Ari, its not your fault, if she wants to act like she does then she can" said Jon.
"What will you do?" said Arianne.
"I'll keep an eye on her and Joffrey" said Jon.
"Nothing else?" said Arianne curiously.
"There's nothing else I can do, maybe Father can convince her" said Jon.
"We'll see, come on lets finish unpacking, then we'll go for a walk okay, clear our heads?" said Arianne.
Jon smiled and the two of them kept on packing their clothes into the wardrobe and drawers.
The next day Ashara arrived in Kings Landing and made her way to Jon's room.
She entered the room and found Jon and Arianne furiously kissing on the bed.
"Ahem" said Ashara smirking.
The two sprang apart and looked at her.
Jon got up and made his way over to her.
"Mother" said Jon smiling.
"Jon" sauid Ashara wrapping him in a hug.
"Lady Ashara" said Arianne getting up from the bed and walking over to her.
"Princess Arianne, it is good to see you again" said Ashara kissing each others cheeks.
"What brings you to Kings Landing?" said Jon.
"You, given that you're going to stay in Kings Landing for a while I thought I might come and stay here with you" said Ashara.
"I'm glad you're here Mother, I've got quite a bit to tell you" said Jon.
"Yes, lets start with what happened on the Kings Road, your letter seemed a bit vague" said Ashara seriously.
"Very well, you might want to sit down for this" said Jon taking a seat on the bed.
Aashara and Arianne sat down on the bed.
Jon and Arianne told Ashara everything about what had happened since they left Starfall finishing with how Jon was forced to kill Lady.
"Gods, how could the Queen force you to do that?" said Ashara sounding angry.
"It was either I do it, or Illyn Payne would kill both wolves, and I wasn't going to let that butcher slaughter them" said Jon.
"She is a cold woman the Queen, the Prince does not sound much better either" said Ashara.
"Father begged me to let him do it but I refused" said Jon.
"Why didn't yopu let your Father do it?" said Ashara sounding shocked.
"I knew Sansa would hate me for doing it, I knew she would hate Father if he hd done it instead of me, so I made my choice, I would rather her hate a Brother she barely knows than a Father she's known her whole life" said Jon.
Ashara weakly smiled.
"You know Jon, that was a brave thing doing that, a foolish one but a brave thing to sacrifice your own well being for someone else" said Jon.
Jon smiled at her.
"Thank you Mother, I needed that" said Jon.
"I'm your Mother sweetling, its my job to remind you how good you are" said Ashara.
"Listen I need to see Father soon, will you come with me, I think it would cheer him up to see you" said Jon.
"Jon, if you need to see your Father about something important I can see him another time instead" said Ashara.
"No its fine, come with me" said Jon.
Jon, Arianne and Ashara left the room and walked towards Ned's solar in the Tower Of The Hand. When they arrived they knocked on the door twice.
"Who is it?" said Ned from inside.
"Its Jon and Arianne Father, we have a surprise guest with us" said Jon.
"Come in" said Ned.
Jon opened the door and walked into the room followed by Arianne and Ashara to see Ned writing a letter at his desk.
Ned looked up and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Ashara" said Ned in shock.
"Hello Ned" said Ashara smiling.
"You never told me you were coming, nor did Jon" said Ned standing up.
"Jon didn't know either, I wanted to surprise you" said Ashara.
Ned stepped towards her and the two hugged each other.
"We'll leave you two alone, I'm sure you would like to catch up with each other" said Arianne.
"You don't have to" said Ned.
"No its all right, you two catch up, we're going for a walk" said Jon taking Arianne's hand and walking out of the room with her.
They turned back to see Ned and Ashara talking amongst themselves as Jon and Arianne turned the corner and headed towards the courtyard.
