JON CONNINGTON I
The Titan of Bravos, a massive statue that guards the passage into the city beyond. The legs of the guardian were made from the same black granite of the islands upon which it stood though, above the waist, the colossus was made of bronze. Though what was most striking was that the eyes of the titan were made of two massive fires that were feed from those stationed within. It was said that the titan made any unwanted entrance into the city near impossible, and Jon Connington had been inclined to believe it.
It was a cool morning, one of the few he'd experienced while in Bravos. Jon Connington looked out to the sea and beyond. He seethed as he thought about who ruled their now and the memory of bells rang in his mind. It had been years since the Battle of the Bells and yet it haunted him as if it had happened that same day. I could have ended it. I could have fucking ended it right then and there. Bloody fool, bloody fucking fool.
"Magnificent city," Turing his head Jon saw his old friend had at last arrived. It had been a few long years since he'd last met with Arthur, and the man looked the same as ever. The knight was dressed in a red tunic with a mail shirt underneath and Dawn slung across his back.
"Yes, it is," Jon replied plainly. "Though I'd take the Roost over it any day."
"I sometimes find myself dreaming of Starfall in the night," Arthur admitted. "Essos has its charms but it is not home."
"Isn't that the fucking truth," Jon said looking away from the sea at last as he turned and faced his friend. "How is the prince?"
Arthur sighed. "The boy is a handful and reckless at times. He seems to want to explore, I've found him wonder into the city on his own, and he never grows tired of sparring."
"Sounds like he's a mischievous boy," Jon smirked. "Though it may be good he's that way, he'll fight in wars when he's older, and war it nothing but trouble, best he learns how to deal with it now."
"I suppose you're right."
"You suppose?" Jon couldn't help laughing. "I don't suppose, I know. I've seen boys pampered by their lord father's shit themselves in battle, most don't last long that or they run like the craven they were raised to be. No, it's good he's a little rough around the edges Dayne, it will keep him alive one day."
Jon rubbed his thigh as he though. The pain from where he'd taken a long sword cut ached and the scar that had formed throbbed as a constant reminder of the reason he'd written urgently to Arthur. Narrowing his gaze Jon decided it was best to put aside the small talk and get onto business. "I suppose you'll be wondering why I brought you all the way out here."
Arthur nodded. "I can assume it's not just to catch up."
"No, though I wish it were." Jon paused for a long moment, the air seemed to grow ripe with tension and he didn't like the taste of it. "The Golden Company's rejected my proposal. It's funny, I'd hoped to harbor Aegon with them before he…" Jon trailed off. "Before he died."
Jon nodded. The news that the boy had made it to Essos alive, snuck away from King's Landing by the Spider, Varys. Jon had ridden to meet with him upon hearing the news, however, when he met the Spider he was handed a coffin. The boy was laid to rest in a Tempt of the faith of the Seven in Bravos in an unmarked grave. It had taken what little gold Jon had had at the time, but he'd not let the first son of Rhaegar be buried in some unmarked grave in the middle of Essos, he feared he'd be haunted by the ghost of his friend for the rest of his life if he allowed that. After that Jon Joined the Golden Company serving within the ranks of Harry Strickland's sellsword army. He marched with them for many years before he learned of Arthur Dayne's survival and with it the news of the existence of the prince's second son and now heir.
Arthur seemed disheartened at the refusal of the company, his eyes drooped to the ground as he let out a deep sigh. "Strickland will not aid us then. As strong as Dorne is we cannot take the seven Kingdoms with the support of one of the Kingdoms."
"What about the Starks?" Jon asked. "I know what the King Aerys did to Lord Starks father, but surely he can be persuaded to support his Nephew?"
Arthur shook his head his lips pressed into a frown. "Lord Stark tracked me across Dorne to take the prince from me, and while it's true I believe he'd try to protect his sister's son, he is loyal to a fault. No, I cannot see the Eddard Stark turning his back on the Usurper."
"So, the Golden Company will not join us, not without coin at least, which we've little of. The Iron Bank will not back us. You say the Starks can't be brought to the fold and the others that took part in the butcher of House Targaryen will never join us. The Greyjoy's would be a lost cause." Jon let loose a deep sigh. "So, that leaves Dorne and maybe House Tyrell, and knowing Mace…"
"House Tyrell could be opposed to us, especially if they have any doubts about our ability to take the Iron Throne." Arthur finished.
"Not exactly what we need. To take back the Seven Kingdoms." Jon admitted. "But Aegon the Conqueror didn't have any great houses backing him at first."
"Yes, no great Houses, just three very large Dragons," Arthur rebutted. "And we've no dragons to speak of."
"We had one once," Jon replied sadly. "But you are correct, we've little work with. But we have something that could be of great use to us." Motioning for Arthur to follow, Jon started away from the shoreline and led him back to where he'd left his horse to graze. Retrieving a long leather wrapped item he began to unravel it to show his friend the fruits of his labors. "We do have this."
Revealed within the wrapping was a sword sheathed within black hardened leather that decorated with interact patterns of bright red dragon scales that seemed to catch the light and glowed like rubies. sticking out from the sheath was the hilt of the blade whose guard was made of Valyrian Steel which was evident from the pattern of the metal. The guard of the blade was ever so slightly curved to the blade and at each end was the head of a dragon. The grip of the blade was made of some dark wood, that Connington suspected to have been of Valyrian origin had carvings of red dragons upon it and on the pommel, was a dragon swallowing a bright red ruby.
Arthur Dayne's eyes seemed to go bright upon looking at the blade. Hesitantly he reached out and lifted the weapon in his hands before drawing the blade. The sword was a hand and a half and shone brilliantly in the sun. The edge of the steel was flawless and Connington was sure with enough force behind a blow could cut lesser steels swords in half. Smirking the former Hand of the King looked at his old friend's bewilderment.
"Where… where did you get this?" Arthur asked, still half believing what was in his grip.
"When Bittersteel was defeated he took the rightful blade of our prince's house across the Narrow." Connington recited. "So here it has been, with the Golden Company for all these years."
"But you said the Golden Company refused us." Arthur retorted.
"They did," Jon admitted. "So, I decided that if they would not help us, we would help ourselves. So, I took Blackfyre from right under their noses."
Jon frowned as soon as he saw the look on Ser Dayen's face, it was angry. Sheathing the sword Arthur thrust it back into his hands and turned marching a few meters before quickly turning on him with rage. "Have you any idea of what you've done?"
"I've retrieved what is the birthright of the heir to House Targaryen!" Connington replied hotly.
"Yes, but now the whole of the Golden Company will be after us, and by extension Jon!" Arthur yelled over a wave crashed against the shoreline. "Is a sword with an enemy like them?"
Connington narrowed his gaze. "Would Dawn be worth and enemy like them to you?" Arthur seemed to recoil at that. Reaching behind his back the knight touched the sword there. Seeing he'd caught his friend off guard for a moment, Connington continued. "It's not just a weapon, it's a symbol. Aegon wielded this sword when he made his kingdom, and so shall Jon when he makes it anew. And so, it will be a symbol for all to know him as the King of all of Westeros."
Arthur gazed upon the stone covered ground as he thought. "What is a symbol if we're running from Harry Strickland and his company?"
Connington smiled at last. "It isn't, which is why you cannot remain here my friend."
"We cannot return to Westeros, not yet."
"If not now then when?"
"We need more support than what we have now," Arthur argued.
"Arthur, don't be a blind fool," Connington yelled. "The Golden Company will not support us, not ever. We've no gold from which to pay for an army, and no city in Essos is going to raise us an army. We cannot say here, we can't be like Rhaegar's brother and wonder this god forsaken content begging for someone to just hand Jon a fucking crown!"
"What would you have me do then? Return to Dorne and try to convince House Martell to take on the Usurper alone? It would be utter madness."
"Yes, it would." Connington agreed. "We, however, do have the Spider on our side, and if we play our cards right we could see our Prince sitting on the throne."
Arthur thought on this for a moment before replying. "And what of Jon?"
Connington laughed. "The boy looks like a fucking Stark; the last thing people would suspect is him to be the son of Rhaegar. Hide his name, and let him get to know the land he'll rule," Jon sighed. "Otherwise he might not be accepted by the Lords of Westeros."
Arthur nodded. "I've much to think on." He replied turning and began to walk back down the path. "Come Lord Connington, I think it's about time we returned to Pentos."
Wrapping Blackfyre back into its leather role, Connington climbed aboard his stead and followed his friend closely behind. Together, the two began down the road south for Pentos, the pair riding with great haste taking little brakes. The Arthur had at first suggested they take a ship to Pentos, however, Connington had suspected that the Golden Company would be looking for him and that it was easier to avoid any pressures on land rather than the pirate lords of the Narrow Sea.
After many days of traveling the pair stood sat in on their bedrolls, the with the night fast approaching. The night was warm and the two ate their bread with a low fire lit before them. Opening his wineskin, Lord Connington took a long drink before offering the vessel to Arthur who took it gratefully. Staring into the dim fire, the old warrior found himself thinking about Rhaegar, he missed the prince and had felt reasonable for his death. Bells, nothing but bells. Shaking his head, Jon looked south and felt somewhat hopeful then.
"Why Jon?" Connington asked quietly.
"What?" Arthur replied looking up.
"Why was the boy named Jon?" Arthur asked.
Arthur looked to the sky. "He'd hoped to have a second daughter, to complete his three-headed dragon. He wished to name her Visenya after the queen sister of Aegon the Conqueror, but if he had by chance had a boy, he said he'd decided to name him Jon, after the Lord of Griffin's Roost." Jon saw his friend smirk.
Jon felt sour, he deserved no such honor, he'd done Rhaegar wrong in his loss at the Battle of the Bells, the last thing he should have done was name a son after him. "He shouldn't have done that, I wasn't worthy of such an honor."
"You're far too hard on yourself. Aerys did the realm no service in exiling you. After the war, he wanted to lift your exile you know." Arthur sighed. "We wanted to do a lot after the bloody war, but the gods were cruel to Rhaegar in the end."
Jon looked to the south once more. "We may still have a chance to make things right." Jon looked westward. "This next war will be my last." He whispered to himself. Jon of the House Targaryen… I will not fail your family again.
A/N: Well I'm done with college so you'll be happy to hear I have more free time than normal! So look out for chapters to roll out faster in the next few months here as I plow through it again! Also, the new season of HBO's Game of Thrones is closing in, so I'll be even more inspired to churn out content. Anywho, onto questions.
Q: Should have at least gave him targaryen features if your gonna make not go to winterfell. I don't see the point of lya naming her son after someone who led the charge against her "lover".
A: Genes don't work like that... however, the point of Jon not having any Targaryen features is an important part of the story, you'll understand what this means later.
Q: It would be cool if Jon manages to get both Blackfyre and Dark Sister and dual wields them like good ol' uncle Dayne~
A: Dark Sister is with Bloodraven (the Three-eyed Crow) so don't keep your hopes up. As for Blackfyre you'll see that put into play.
Q: Fuck who doesn't want this to be a Jon/Dany story. Why should others suffer because of your wants. Writer continue how you feel. Great story so far!
A: Well, I've already written the storyboard for the whole story (different from writing chapters) so the "pairing" is already set in place so no worries on reviewers trying to get me to sail their ships.