5th Month of 298 A.C. Winterfell
Jon Snow
The feast had been alright he supposed, it was something he had looked forward to but also dreaded for some time. On the one hand it meant he got to drink more wine or ale than his siblings did, on the other it meant it was not allowed to sit at the high table. And whilst he was not a child anymore to sulk, it did still sting. There were times when he resented his father, resented him for doing as he had done, and there were times when he resented Lady Stark, for treating him the way she did when it was not his fault. In some ways he was glad that he did not have to sit at the high table and make awkward conversation with the royal family, on the other he wanted to be there. And when Prince Joffrey, the heir to the Iron Throne had come and asked him to join him, Jon had been surprised it was not often a guest wished to speak with him let alone invite him up to the High Table. And though he had been reluctant to do so, it seemed Ghost had made up his mind for him getting up and following the crown prince, the same as Lady did. And that was a strange thought for Jon, usually the direwolves only did as their masters bid them to.
That was how he found himself to be at the High Table conversing with the crown prince and the royal family as well as his own. Trying desperately to hide his disbelief at the situation he listened as the Prince asks. "So tell me Jon, what sort of things do you like?"
Jon is slightly thrown by the question, normally people do not ask him these sorts of things, and usually he is forgotten. "Well my prince, I quite like sword fighting and reading about the histories of the seven kingdoms."
"Of course, sword fighting is a given. What man does not like sword fighting?" the prince says. "As for reading histories, what sort of histories? The type taught in lessons?"
Jon considers his answer for a moment suddenly aware that he does not want the prince to think him odd. The prince's opinion suddenly means a great deal to him. And so it is with this in mind that he says. "Martial history Your Grace. I quite like reading about the various battles and wars that have been fought during the history of the kingdoms."
Jon gives a mental sigh of relief when he sees the crown prince smile. "Ah very good. I quite like the military histories myself. What is your favourite battle?"
Jon takes a long moment to consider and then says. "That is a very hard question to answer my prince, but if I had to give one I would say the battle of the weeping water."
The crown prince is silent a moment and then says. "An interesting choice. The Weeping Water, was a well-planned battle by King Brandon Stark and yet one might say that Royce Bolton was a fool to look toward using the river as a chance to stop the advance, considering his brother had betrayed him."
"Ah but how could Royce know that? He was counting on some sort of betrayal from the Ryswells or the Ryders and as such when it did not come, that was when he knew he was finished." Jon replies.
"Then if that was the case, then surely King Brandon should have destroyed the Boltons then and there. There was nothing of use that the Boltons could provide them. and as he did not do it then they continued to cause problems for your family until Bennard Bolton bent the knee because he knew his family was dying." The crown prince replies.
Jon is surprised by the way the crown prince argues his case and asks. "What do you know of the wars with the Boltons Your Grace?"
The crown prince is silent a moment and Jon wonders if that is all he knows, but then he says. "I know that there of record some ten wars between the Starks and the Boltons, between the end of the Long Night and the full unification of the kingdom of the north. There were many notable battles, such as the Weeping Water, the battle of the barrows, the battle of the nine knives. The list is endless. Needless to say that after most of these battles the Starks had the advantage and did not push for it."
"And what advantage is that Your Grace?" Jon asks curious.
"That they had the Boltons and their allies on their knees. Allowing the Boltons to keep the lands that they kept was foolish and left them somewhat in a more powerful position than they really should have been. Something that has always meant that the Stark lords had to keep themselves wary." The crown prince replies.
"But surely there was honour in that. Helping their enemies from their knees, made their enemies more reliant on them would you not agree?" Jon counters.
The crown prince is silent a moment and then says. "Hmm, an interesting view. But their actions did also mean that the Boltons thought they could get away with smaller acts of treason throughout the time. It took one long period of slaughter before they finally learned their place. And in the process cost many lives."
Jon looks at the crown prince curiously. "What would you have done in their place?" he asks.
The crown prince's face takes on a look of deep concentration then, until he finally says. "I would have done as I believe Theon Stark wanted to do when the Boltons rose up against him, remove all grown male Boltons and take the youngest male Bolton as a ward and raise him up to respect and fear the Starks. That way the boy would be too scared to do anything but do as he was told and would also have some sort of relationship with the Stark heirs."
Jon considers what the crown prince has said, and then says. "A smart move, something like what King Robert asked my father to do with Theon then?"
The crown prince nods and there must be something in his face for the crown prince then asks. "What is Theon Greyjoy like Jon?" Jon hesitates for a moment and the crown prince says. "Be honest with me. You do not need to lie if you do not like the boy."
Something about the tone of the crown prince's words reassure Jon. And Ghost it seems feels the same reassurance, he does not fail to note that Lady is still beside the crown prince as well, though Sansa seems to have gone somewhere. He takes his time to formulate a response and when he does he feels reasonably happy with what he says. "I think Theon Greyjoy is a man who is still a boy. He tries to act like a man but truly he is not a nice man, nor is he an honourable man. I do not think one could take the Ironborn out of him even if you tried."
The crown prince looks at him then. "Interesting. So you do not like him then?"
The blunt manner of the crown prince's question is refreshing for Jon, the southern squires had been talking in nothing but riddles. "I do not no. I think he is too full of himself and does not know enough about who he is or what he is to warrant such an attitude."
The crown prince nods. "Indeed? Well that is hardly surprising, the Ironborn do tend to think overly much of themselves. It would not be so surprising if Theon thought the same, though it is a shame as one would think that he would be different considering who raised him." The crown prince is silent a moment and then he asks. "Has Greyjoy ever been cruel to you Jon?"
Jon is somewhat thrown by the question. No one has ever truly asked him that before. He does not know how to honestly respond, and so he goes with the first thing he can think of. "Yes, for being a bastard he mocks me repeatedly."
The crown prince looks somewhat angered at this. "Now that is not excusable. You are a Stark regardless of your last name, and your family is older and nobler of blood than the Greyjoys. Tell me Jon what is it you wish to do with yourself?"
Jon is somewhat thrown by this. "I…I… I do not know."
"Do you wish to remain here with Greyjoy, or do you wish to make a name for yourself?" the crown prince asks.
Jon considers this a moment. "No I do not. I do not want to remain here and listen to that man make fun of my origin."
"Then stand up for yourself Jon. Tell him that you are not a ward, you are not a hostage, you are a son of House Stark and you will always amount to more than he will." The crown prince says.
"But why? That will not make a difference. He will simply tell me where to go and then insult me for it." Jon says.
The crown prince smiles. "He will not if you have a opportunity that he does not."
"What do you mean Your Grace?" Jon asks.
"Theon Greyjoy is a hostage for all intents and purposes. He cannot return to the Iron Islands without your and my father's approval. He will remain here until either his father dies or our fathers lose their senses. You on the other hand have the entire world at your feet. Your family can open doors for you, what is it you have always wanted to be Jon?" the crown prince asks.
Jon thinks of a wife and children of his own, and a castle that looks somewhat like Winterfell, before crushing those dreams, he can never have that, but then he pictures a man in white armour a white cloak flying by his side and a glittering sword held aloft. And he knows his answer. "A man of the Kingsguard Your Grace. I wish to serve in the most honourable and dedicated guard there is in the kingdom."
Something flashes in the crown prince's eyes Jon is not sure what it is, but a moment later it is gone. "Interesting, very interesting Jon. And something that could well be arranged. I know you are a good swordsman your brother Robb was telling me as much as was Sansa. I can make your path someway easier if you so desire."
"You would?" Jon asks surprised. "How? Why?"
"I would indeed, you are a member of the house that my father and I hold dear, why would I not want the best for you? I can speak with my father or with Ser Barristan and see if one of the Kingsguard would take you on as their squire." The crown prince says.
Jon is completely surprised by this. "You…you can do that?"
"Of course. I am the crown prince. I need only ask and it will be done. But of course you would need to want it Jon. I will not ask unless you want it." the crown prince replies.
Jon feels completely surprised by this, completely taken aback. He is not sure what to say or how to respond. He is not sure why the crown prince is giving him this opportunity but he knows that it is something he would be foolish to refuse. He looks at the crown prince and sees nothing but sincerity there, and then looks at Ghost and Lady both of whom look fairly comfortable with the crown prince, Lady resting her head in his lap. "I….I… would be most honoured Your Grace."
The crown prince smiles and says. "Very good. Very good. The Kingsguard will be lucky to have you. I will speak with Ser Barristan later tonight if it so pleases you."
"Yes Your Grace." Jon says his heart jumping for joy.