Reviews
Takao-kun
That's Lady B*** now, Robert stripped her title of Queen B****, and she's still alive so something else bad can happen to her.
As for the weapon issue, you raise a good point, but the reason for the Planeswalker learning the sword was to give the character a chance to make friends with Jon Snow by bonding over a shared activity. I will keep in mind your point about the mace and spears, that can be useful later.
willboon
Glad you liked them.
Nakedfury
How do you know that entry is forbidden? Do you have a cannon source for this? In the scenes in the show there were lots of people just wandering around in the courtyard. Security might not be that important in peace time. Naturally I assumed that parts of Winterfell would be bared to visitors, like the private quarters and such, and that guards would prevent entry into those parts. I've visited the homes of nobles in my country, and can you tour parts of them without trouble.
Plus he was alone, unarmed and the guard went and told Ned Stark about the visitor right away, he wasn't just allowed to wander around. Also in the show a Wildling prisoner, I forget her name, was permitted to go into the godswood while Bran was praying so there seems to be some pubic access. Last of all its a place of worship for those who follow the ways of the old gods, denying access to it would be like telling people they couldn't go into a church.
You raise good points, but the those chapters were already longer than I planned. I plan to show what certain people think about what happened later on. I have lots and lots of Game of Throne chapters ahead. That was just the time up to and including episode 1 of season 1.
Oh I didn't write the fight because Game of Thrones is rather bloody and I didn't put any warnings up for this story or give it a M rating.
code R.R
Those are just the ones to has to worry about for now.
Planeswalker Gothic
Game of Thrones 4
The North. Winterfell.
"I'm sorry Jon but I forbid it." Lord Stark said.
Much had been denied Jon Snow throughout his life, such as any inheritance, also a proper name, and as much as it bothered Ned to deny the boy yet again, he couldn't allow this either. Jon could not join the Black Brothers, not yet.
"It's not fair!" Jon shouted, his mood swinging to a rarely shown anger he nearly always kept hidden.
So much like my sister, Ned thought.
Winterfell had been silent since the two trails by combat. The silence was not comforting as Ned did not want this conversation to be heard by the wrong ears. Even in his own study they had to be cautious, so Eddard had given orders to the household that he and Jon were not to be bothered. Not even Maester Luwin, who had helped come up with this plan, was allowed in here.
He also didn't want an audience for what he was about to ask Jon to do, as it shamed him a bit. It was an unfair thing to request of Jon when the young man only ever strived to be honourable.
"Father, if I can't go south with you, and Lady Stark won't have me in Winterfell, where else can I go but the Wall?" the younger man asked "Uncle Benjen says I would do well there".
Lord Stark waited for Jon to finish speaking before saying anything else.
"He also says that you are too young to know what such a choice means" the Warden of the North said "And I'm inclined to agree with him."
Ned reached for his son, but the younger man shrugged away from his touch.
"Do you wish me to stay at Winterfell?" Jon asked, almost hopeful.
Sadly this was not the case.
"No." Eddard replied. "I'm sorry, but no. You are my blood Jon, not Catelyn's. I cannot ask her to care for you".
The lad looked ready to say something about that, but he was cut off when Ned spoke again.
"You are still going to the Wall though. You will leave with your Uncle Benjen, and Jon I still forbid you to take the black. Instead, you will come south with the Baron".
Jon's face twisted in both shock and confusion.
"He has a mind to travel to the Wall before going south to hopefully to aid me in King's Landing. As you already planned you will be that escort Jon. See him safely to the Wall, and then south to King's Landing. Once there you will seek me in the capital" Lord Stark instructed.
The young man was understandably confused. This was partly the plan he had already agreed to, escorting his friend safely the Wall, and perhaps back to Winterfell. Now there was this talk of going south.
"But you said I wouldn't be welcome at Court" Jon reminded his father.
This was true.
"You won't be at Court" Lord Stark said "You'll be a squire for the Baron. He is a noble, I have given him lands, and so he may take a squire if he wishes. You will ask on my behalf, I'm sure he will say yes".
Eddard hadn't discussed this with Gothic, there hadn't been time. However he had sworn the mage into his service as a lord of the North, which Lord Stark had been willing do as he felt House Stark would need more allies in the future. Plus saving Bran had been a major factor.
"Squire" muttered the young man.
Jon's face lit up for a moment, his head probably filling up with boyhood tales of gallantry and adventure, like those of Duncan the Tall. Tales that Ned knew Sansa was often entertained by. Although for different reasons than her brothers.
"Would he want me?" Jon asked "I'm too old to squire and… a bastard besides".
Before he'd even finished saying it Snow felt foolish. He knew his friend didn't care for such things.
"Some of the finest knights who have ever lived started off with names like Rivers and Sands" Lord Eddard said "And if Baron... that is Lord Gothic does by some chance say no. Well if Robert is going to foist ruling the realm upon me, I will use it to do some good for my blood. I believe it will be easily within my power to find a good knight who can take you as a squire"
The idea had come from Maester Luwin's counselling the night before.
"You think I could be a knight?" Snow asked.
Jon's face was still filled with doubt but a cautious hope shone through as well.
"I do." Ned reached for the boy again, this time being permitted to grasp his shoulders "I think you could make a fine knight Jon. I'll help you all I can, but this is a chance for you to make a life for yourself. Knights can even take their own names you know".
This made the younger man smile, just a little.
"I wouldn't have to be a Snow? I could serve a lord as a sworn sword" he said "But who would I serve? Where would I…"
Again Lord Stark cut him off.
"Those are questions for me to answer when you arrive in King's Landing" Ned said as he patted the younger man on the shoulders. "I want this to be a new start for you Jon. I want you to have a life where you're not held accountable for my… sins."
Alas there would be some dishonour.
"Jon, there's more" the Warden of the North is now saying "I must command something of you, and you must tell me now if you can do it. If you cannot, I must take other actions".
Ned knew that the Lannisters would not forgive the Starks for what had happened here at Winterfell, and he also knew that war might soon be on the horizon. If he was going to win that war, as quickly and bloodlessly as possible, he would need to forge alliances and sometime soon perhaps call his banners. Bringing the other lords of the north to his side. Also he would need the Baron, of that he was sure.
"Anything father, you know that" his son said.
Jon spoke so earnestly that it made Ned feel all the worse about what he had to ask.
"Gothic. Ride with him. Protect him even when in our lands and as you can go south. Show him all the courtesy and respect he is due" Ned instructed.
Jon had no issue with his, it was he had planned to do before going on to join the Watch. He wondered what all the fuss was about.
"And watch him." Ned said quietly "Listen to what he says. Know to whom he speaks. Find out who watches him as you watch him".
The meaning of what Ned was asking him slowly dawned on the youth.
"I am to spy on him?" Jon asked in shock.
When his father nodded, Jon's face darkened in anger again.
"I'm sorry Jon. It must be you." Ned continued. "For reasons I can't say, we must be wary now. Our family may have enemies in the realm. We may even go to war. Gothic has powerful magic, he could be a great ally for House Stark, but he's also a man and therefore vulnerable, he can killed, or drawn to new alliances".
Jon understood this. Although he couldn't see his friend serving a Southern House, at least not by choice.
"The Lannisters" Snow then said.
His father nodded.
"Can you do this Jon?" Lord Stark asked "If you cannot, tell me so now. I will not think less of you
The young man thought about things.
"While doing this will help keep my brothers and sisters safe?" Jon asked.
Ned nodded.
"I would not ask if it wasn't so" he assured the younger man.
Jon straightened then, like a guardsman ready for inspection.
"Then I will do as you as you command of me Lord Stark." he promised.
Ned fought the urge to embrace him then. He was asking the boy to act a man, he could not rightfully ask so much and still treat him like the boy he'd watched grow up in Winterfell. Instead, Ned offered his hand, thinking of the little babe he had brought to his home so many years ago and shaking the hand of the man who was about to leave it.
"I knew I could depend on you." Ned clasped another hand over top of the boy's, holding it firmly. "You must be careful. Trust only those who deserve it. Stay true to yourself, and remember all you've learned here. Most of all, keep safe. I can rest easy so long as you promise to do that".
The younger man nodded.
"Promise me, Jon" requested Ned Stark "Say it".
He did just that.
"I promise" he said.
Ned smiled.
"Good" he then said "Now go find your friend. We'll be leaving shortly".
Jon nodded his head and left the room, knowing that his friend was most likley in the godswood as he seemed to like it there.
(Line Break)
Near The Wall. The North.
The trip to the Wall was unpleasant to say the least. As was the company I had done my best to avoid them so far. Night was falling though, and the party of recruits stopped to set up camp for the night. Some of the recruits who had been tied up to prevent them escaping were sat down and untied as Benjen Stark, the First Ranger and Lord Stark's brother, barked out instructions.
"What could they have done?" Jon asked, more to himself than anyone else.
The Imp wasn't here, unsurprising given that his brother was dead and his sister was in disgrace. I wondered what the poor sod would do, he'd not want to be one to report the bad news to his father.
"Rapers I bet" I said "They were given a choice: castration or The Wall. I think I'd choose the knife".
Mostly because I was almost sure I could use a green mana spell to grow my dick back. Not that it mattered as I'd planeswalk away before anyone could cut anything of mine off. I might have already left anyway if not for the friendship I shared with Jon. Stupid friendship magic of those ponies had infected me I was sure of that.
"That's the lovely thing about the Watch, you lose your old family and you get a whole new one" I went on to say.
Jon shuddered a little despite being wrapped up in his wolf's fur cloak.
"You tried to warn me" he then said "and I didn't listen. If you hadn't agreed to squire me I'd be stuck at The Wall with them".
I nodded my head.
"When you find out what King's Landing is like you might want to reconsider joining the Watch" I told Jon "But still it worth seeing, the Wall I mean. I imagine the view from the top must be nothing short of breath taking".
Despite my fear of heights, which had grown stronger since I'd done my falling star impression, I was still going to the top of the Wall. I just wasn't going go too near the edge.
"So did you father ask you to keep an eye on me?" I question Jon "Spy on me I mean".
He didn't answer me, he didn't need to. It made sense and my friend had been acting awkwardly around me like he'd wanted to tell me something, and I could tell something had been bothering him since we'd left Winterfell. Something to do with me.
"I take no offence" I told Jon "Its actually a bit flattering, I don't think Lord Stark would go to all this trouble unless he worried about me".
No doubt he wanted to keep me as an ally, and that would involve keeping me close to a Stark as much as possible.
"Well I wouldn't be too flattered, he only sent a bastard to keep watch" Jon grumbled.
He was very good at being Mr Grumpy Pants.
"Does me knowing change your plans?" I asked with curiosity "Do you still intend to go south with me?"
He nodded.
"My father expects me to do so. I am meant to be a squire, not a sworn brother. And I can't stay Winterfell so long as he's in the south" Jon told me "Lady Stark would not have me there without him".
Bitch that she was.
"Well I'll be happy to share the road with you" I told Jon "We'll stay at some nice inns, take our time going south. Maybe have some adventures, or at least see some sights".
Jon seemed surprised.
"You still want me to ride with you?" he asked.
I still liked the Starks more than anyone else. If it came to war, and I was sure it would. I'd support Robb in his conquests.
"Well I've enjoyed your company" I said to the bastard of Winterfell "You're a good man Jon Snow, a really, really terrible spy, but a good man".
This world needed more like him. Alas good men were lacking in these parts.
(Line Break)
The Kings Road. Seven Kingdoms.
"Gods, now this is country!" Robert declared as he stepped out from behind a tree where he had been urinating.
The sun was warm, and a pleasant breeze rustled the leaves in the trees. They had stopped alongside the road for a noon meal. Fresh fruit, soft white bread and meat that had been roasted an open fire were spread out, before the king and his hand.
"I've half a mind to just take my horse and keep going, leave them all behind" Robert said as he sat down and grabbed a mug of beer.
The monarch didn't doubt that there was going to be a lot of fallout from his sentencing, yet what choice had there been. The trail by combat should have settled the matter. Alas the king knew it would not be. His former wife's father would have things to say, and he'd take action too. Looking back it was a minor miracle that a battle had not taken place between the Lannister men and the Stark soldiers.
"I've half a mind to join you" Ned replied.
As tempting as that was he had his duty, and a family to care for.
"What do you say Ned, just you and me on the Kingsroad, swords at our sides, couple of tavern wenches to warm our beds tonight" Robert said with a grin "Its not we ever had the chance to do things like that when we were young".
King Robert knew it was simply remain a dream.
"Oh, I recall a few chances" Ned said with a grin.
Robert broke into a hearty laugh.
"There was that one, that common girl of yours" he said to Ned "Becka, with the big tits you could bury your face in!".
Lord Stark laughed this time.
"Bessie" Ned corrected him "She was one of yours"
The king recalled that this was true.
"Bessie! Thank the gods for Bessie and her tits!" Robert said as he laughed some more. "Who was that common girl of yours? Alena? Merril? Your bastard's mother"
The mood became more somber.
"Wylla" Ned said quietly.
The king drank some ale before speaking further.
"She must have been a rare wench to make Lord Eddard Stark forget his honour" Robert teased "You never told me what she looked like".
"Nor will I" replied Ned coldly.
Robert dislike how his friend thought so badly of himself.
"We were at war, none of us knew if we were ever going to go home again. You're too hard on yourself, you always have been" Robert said.
From a pocket, he took out a small piece of parchment paper.
"There was a rider in the night" Robert explained, as he handed it to Ned.
Lord Stark read over the letter, grimaced and threw it down upon the table.
"Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horse-lord, what of it? Shall we send her a wedding gift?" Ned said.
The king was not pleased, he thought this was news worthy of worrying about.
"A dagger in the night perhaps, and a bald man to wield it." Robert replied harshly.
Eddard wanted to change the subject, but this had to be discussed.
"Well this girl is across the Narrow Sea, and she's little more than a child Robert" Ned said "Leave her be".
Robert's eyes were hard and cold.
"Soon enough that child will spread her legs for this 'Khal Drogo' and start breeding, and what then? There's still plenty in the Kingdoms who still say I'm a usurper, and if a Targaryen boy crosses the Narrow Sea with a hundred thousand screaming Dothraki behind him? There's scum who will join him".
There's was a moment of silence, and it was plain that Eddard was carefully considering his next words.
"Your Grace, sending assassins after the Khal's wife will only aggravate the Dothraki, and even though they cannot cross the Narrow Sea, I do not think sending her a dagger to be planted in her breast is the most prudent choice of action" Lord Stark advised, his voice even, conciliatory.
The king drank some more.
"There's a war coming, I don't know when or who, but I can feel it coming" he said, staring hard at Ned.
Lord Stark had a few ideas on how that war would start, he feared that he had already started it.
(Line Break)
The Wall. The North.
I'd learned from Maester Luwin that The Wall was a colossal fortification which stretched for 100 leagues (300 miles) along the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms, and that its purpose was to defending the realm from the wildlings who lived beyond. The Wall was over 700 feet tall and was made of solid ice with a base of stone.
It was supposedly constructed using both magic and mundane means some eight millennium ago, possible making use of giants for labour, in the aftermath of the Long Night to defend the realm against the White Walkers, magical creatures that dwelled in the far north, though they are now considered myths by most.
Now that I was actually here I couldn't imagine that they'd built the Wall to keep out mere men. The Great Wall of China didn't look as imposing at this wall. Also it was White Mana power house, that had to follow a Ley Line or something like because I could fell how magical it was. Which made some sense as it was meant to keep out creatures with power over ice, so it couldn't just be a wall of ice.
The Wall was defended by the Sworn Brothers of the Night's Watch. Once an honourable institution, the Watch had fallen on hard times. It had become grievously undermanned, the Night's Watch now numbering less than a thousand men, an all-time low. While once there had been great glory and honour in joining the Night's Watch, in the present day it was little more than a glorified penal colony, and way for large noble families to get rid of troublesome heirs.
The current headquarters of the Watch was Castle Black, which was at the northern end of the Kingsroad. There was also Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, located at the eastern end of the Wall, which served as port and resupply post for the Night's Watch. The Shadow Tower at the western end of the Wall was the only other manned castle. Among the abandoned castles along the length of the Wall was the Nightfort, the first fortress built on the Wall and the original headquarters of the Night's Watch.
According to legend there had once been a Night's King, not to be confused with the Night King the leader of the Walkers, who had ruled from the Nightfort after declaring himself king, and had performed dark rituals. The Wildlings and the Starks had teamed up to talk him down.
He'd also supposedly taken a female White Walker as a bride, however in my visions I'd never seen any proof of this, all the Walkers were men. If it had ever happened I didn't think any White Walkers had been involved. More likely the Night's King had fallen under the sway of some magic user, like Stannis had in the books and show, and had simply gone mad before being put down. People followed rulers here even if they were totally crazy.
The region south of the Wall is called the Gift, bestowed to the Night's Watch by House Stark thousands of years ago to supply the Night's Watch with food and other provisions.
From what I remember reading, in the past, the Night's Watch would send men out every morning to the north side of the Wall to cut down any trees growing within one mile of the structure, so the wildlings couldn't use any natural cover to approach the base of the Wall undetected. With the ranks of the Night's Watch drastically diminishing over the years, many of the areas between the three forts that are still manned had tall trees almost growing right up to the base of the Wall.
The only thing I'd seen in this that was more impressive than The Wall was the view while standing on top of The Wall, even without going near the edge, was an experience to treasure.
"So what do you think of the view?" I asked Jon.
He turned away from whatever it was he'd been looking at and faced me.
"I've already been up here twice already" he told me "The first time with my Uncle Benjen, he wanted to be with me when I saw it. I think its the best part of this place".
Mr Snow wasn't too impressed by the men of the Night's Watch. Ser Alistar Thorne, if that was his name, was a total git. Most of the new recruits were crooks, and the only decent fellows around were old men. There was a recruiter who wasn't too bad at least. And Jon's Uncle was okay, the rest could go hang for all I cared.
"Well I for one don't want to stick around for much longer" I said to the young man "It's freezing here. Plus there's a lot to see between here and King's Landing, and if the Wall does appeal to you well its not going anywhere. You can come back when you're at knight and show that bugger in the training yard what a real knight can do".
That prospect amused Jon.
"Aye I suppose we can't leave my father alone in that hive of scum and villainy for too long" he said.
That was how I had described King's Landing to him.
"Well at least you'll get too see more of my magic soon" I promised the bastard of Winterfell.
Jon gave me a quizzical look.
"My power comes from the land around us and land I own" I explained "I'll be able to draw on more mana now and do greater things".
Jon bit his lip.
"Can anyone learn to do magic?" he asked.
I knew what he wanted me to say, sadly I couldn't tell him what he desired to hear.
"No" I told him "But if want I can make you some magic weapons and armour for you. Like how your father has the greatsword Ice".
Now that got the man's interest. Yet magic swords were the least of what I could offer him.
"We'll stop at Winterfell on the way back down south as planned" I then said "We should check on Bran at least, and we can stay at an inn so we don't bother Lady Stark".
Jon had mixed feelings on returning home I could tell. On the one had he wanted to see his siblings again, on the other he didn't want to see his stepmother. Not that I would blame him.