Crouching Viper Hidden Dragon
Chapter 21
Winterfell….
Jon looked over the training grounds and smiled. He had loved the ancient keep the moment he saw it. For some reason, it's cold façade and it's warm interior just spoke to him. In Winterfell, he saw the embodiment of the north itself, and he loved it. He was driven from his thoughts when one of the wildlings who had come with Benjen Stark to see Winterfell strolled up beside him.
"Are you sure you don't want to go another round Jon Sand? I thought you were pretty good last night but, I think you could do better." The red head said.
Jon smiled. Mace sure knew how to pick his messengers.
"Oh Ygritte, if you only knew. There are things I could do that would turn you into a quivering puddle but, you already know that don't you." Jon said.
"That I do, young magnar. That I do."
Jon laughed but, he wasn't the only one. Tyrion had been walking by and he couldn't help but, eavesdrop.
"My, my, my young Khal. I didn't know you had it in you. I knew that you slinked off Roberts welcome feast early, but, I didn't know you continued your feast. Bravo my friend, bravo." Tyrion said.
"an how did ya know it was he who feasted on me. As I recall, I was the one who did the feasting." Ygritte said.
Tyrion laughed at Ygritte's comment but, Jon didn't.
Jon blushed as he looked at the two. People had started to wake up and both of them were quite loud. He was further embarrassed when he caught sight of young Arya's septa. He didn't think she heard all of their conversation but, by the scowl on her face, she had heard enough.
"I like her." Tyrion said.
Jon scowled. He had never been so embarrassed. Arya's septa kept hanging around looking at some flowers nearby. No doubt, she was just waiting to hear more of their conversation before going back to tell Lady Stark.
"Would you two keep it down? We aren't at a brothel or alehouse. We are outside." Jon said.
Ygritte just laughed him off.
"You know nothing Jon Sand. "
Ygritte then turned to Tyrion and said.
"Come on half man. They are breaking their fast in the great hall. Let me introduce you to my cousin Val. I'm sure you'd find her entertainin. " Ygritte said.
Tyrion nodded to his friend as he and his wildling one night stand left his sight.
He was about to take out his sword and go through his morning work out when Winterfell's maester came to him.
"A message, my lord. It comes raven from white harbor. It was addressed to you Khal Jon but, I could not make sense of it. The letters are common but, I could not understand the words" Maester Luwin said.
Jon nodded to the man and opened the scroll. It was written in the Dothraki tongue and it basically said two things. 1. News from Dothraki Nation and 2. Come home. It meant that Rhade thought that the information was too sensitive for ravens and that two he needed to come home to hear it.
Jon just sighed. The king's entourage had just gotten here yesterday. He had planned to leave with the King's entourage when they left Winterfell but, that would no longer be possible. Knowing the king, he would likely stay for another moon and take another moon to make the journey back to King's Landing. Jon couldn't stay that long. It had already taken him a month to get here travelling with the king and if Rhade held news from the Dothraki Nation then it was his duty as Khal to hear it. He looked around the ancient castle and decided that he would leave in a week. He still had things to accomplish and leaving now wouldn't accomplish them.
Later that morning….
Jon took a breath before knocking on Lord Stark's solar. He didn't really dread talking to Lord Stark or Robb but, Lady Catelyn was another case. She like the rest of the Tully's had been raised in the south and to them, a bastard was a bastard. Although to her credit, she was warming up to him in the week that he had been here. She had seen his interactions with her children and couldn't deny the instant kinship that had developed. Although, there was the unspoken, recrimination that she had given lord Stark. For some reason, Arya had told him in secret, Lady Stark thought that Jon was Lord Stark's bastard. Suffice it to say, it was an uncomfortable week, for Lord and Lady Stark.
"Come in." Lord Stark said.
Jon came through the doorway and was greeted by the Lords of Winterfell. They were seated around the main table. At the tables head sat Lord Stark, to his left sat Lady Stark, and to his right sat Robb Stark.
"Take a seat Lord Jon. I heard you wanted to speak with us." Ned said.
Jon took a seat and nodded to his hosts.
"My lords, my lady." Jon said before taking a sip from the glass of water that was offered him.
"I have come here to offer three proposals. Two of them, I see no problem with but, the third, shall we say is a big one." Jon said.
"Go on." Ned replied.
"First, I offer new trade routes for White Harbor. The Dothraki Nation is already trading heavily with Karhold and Hardhome through Lorath and Braavos. I routes to White Harbor and the rest of the North shouldn't be added to it. The Dothraki Nation relishes it's trade with Dorne and it sees expanding it's Northern Trade as an opportunity for both of us." Jon said. Jon then hands over a trade agreement complete with his seal as a representative and Khal of the Dothraki Nation.
Ned looked at the agreement and smiled. It would be very lucrative for the north and would fill Winterfell's coffers for years to come. It was a simple no brainier, even the daftest fool would say yes to this offer and Ned was no fool.
"I see no problem with this." Ned said as he signed the paper and his copy that Jon had provided. He melted some wax and affixed Winterfell's seal to both copies. He handed the original back to Jon and Jon took it and sealed it. Jon would send it to the Dothraki Nation as soon as he got home.
"Lord Jon, what is your second offer." Lady Catelyn said.
Jon looked at the Lady and addressed her.
"My lady, it is not really an offer but, a request. As you know, the Dothraki Nation deals heavily with Wildlings."
Catelyn nodded acknowledging the fact.
"Our dealings have made the relationship between the Night's watch and the Wildlings much more stable…..Well, much more stable with the Wildlings from Hardhome." Jon said as a non sequitur.
"But, as Mance Rayder and his wildings grow prosperous, their city, needs to expand. I request, as a personal favor to me, safe passage for Wildlings to ride our boats south to Wyk. There they will apprentice their children in masonry, engineering, and sewer management. When they're children return to Hardhome they would be able to use their skills to improve an ever growing population center."
"Hmm. I cannot deny that relation's with Mance's Wildlings have been beneficial to the Night's Watch, my brother Benjen and I discussed it last night at length. He said that, Hardhome, was becoming the new capital of the those born north of the wall and having a centralized power base there, has helped keep the wildlings in line. What do you think Robb?" Ned said.
Robb looked at his father and thought it over before he answered.
"I think it's a good idea. If you give the wildlings something to lose, they are more apt to defend it from other wildlings. If all the other wildlings see greener pastures joining or raiding Mance Rayder and his new city, then the less apt they would be to raid south of the wall." Robb said.
Ned smiled.
"Excellent son, that's exactly what I was thinking. That's the kind of thinking you need to have when you are Warden of the North." Ned said.
Ned then looked at Jon.
"I offer your wildlings safe passage in my lands provided they are just sailing south towards your land. They will not stray outside of White Harbor or Karhold and they will leave as soon as their ships leave port. Is that acceptable to you Lord Jon?" Ned said.
"Very acceptable. Thank you for your kindness Lord Stark. I will not soon forget it." Jon said.
Jon looked at Lady Stark and sighed.
"Now the most difficult of the proposals." Jon said before pausing.
"As you know, I am a bastard of Prince Oberyn Martell and I am a Lord of Wyk (formerly Old Wyl)."
The Starks nod at the fact.
"What you do not know is, I have been tasked by my uncle Prince Doran Martell to strengthen our ties with the North. He believes that an alliance between our houses will not only give our houses more power but, will expand our trade relations and give us more influence in the Seven Kingdoms. He believes that no house be they Lannister or Baratheon, will dare set foot on our land if we have the backing of the other house in our pockets." Jon said.
Ned, Catelyn, and Robb chewed over the proposal. It was a very good proposal on its face. With the North and Dorne in an alliance, the other Kingdoms would be think twice before attacking either Dorne or the North. It was clear Prince Doran had been thinking of this for a long time but, the only way an alliance like that could be made was through marriage, and he had already betrothed Sansa to Joffrey yesterday.
"What you propose would be a great boon to the North but, the only way we would be able to get an alliance is through marriage. With Dorne having the princess Arienne ruling Dorne after her father and with me ruling the North after mine, I don't see how it's possible." Robb said.
"Ahh, but, it is possible. One of your daughter's is betrothed to the new prince but, one of your daughters is not. I propose Arya be married to…"
Jon was cut off by Lady Catelyn before he could finish.
"No, there is no way I'll let Arya marry you. I may not put my foot down much but, I'm putting my foot down now. You two will not be married."
There was silence in the room. Jon blinked once, twice, three times before her words finally sank in. When they did he started laughing. It took him a good minute before calming down. He looked at the angry lady Stark and decided to cut this off before it gained more traction.
"You are mistaken my lady. Although, I think your daughter will be a beautiful lady one day, I see her as a sister. Plus, no matter what your southron upbringing has taught you, I assure you, not all bastards are evil. I am speaking of a betrothal between Lady Arya and my cousin, Trystane Martell."
Lady Stark looks confused for a moment before Jon's words reach her.
"Your cousin?" she asked.
"Yes, my cousin. He is Arya's age and is the third of Prince Doran's children. He is the spare to the spare." Jon finished.
Lady Catelyn seemed more placated that Jon wasn't proposing a marriage for himself.
"He is third in line for the throne and he doesn't stand to inherit a holdfast in Dorne, well, not a holdfast as of yet. My uncles proposal is simple. In exchange for a betrothal of Lady Arya, Prince Trystane will move north. When the time is right and they are married, Trystane will give up his princely title and move to the north with lady Arya. All he asks is your permission for Trystane and Lady Arya to claim Moat Caitlin as there seat. He will provide the funds to rebuild it once it comes time for their marriage."
Ned thought about it and almost leaped at the chance. He had been thinking about rebuilding the Moat for a while now but, he never had the funds to it. With this proposal he would kill two birds with one stone, plus, Arya would be able to stay in the North as a bannerman. Her children would not only have Robb as their liege lord but, they would have close ties to Dorne as well. He didn't see any way this deal could get better. But, as always, Robb had other thoughts.
"She'll never go for it. Right now, the last thing on Arya's mind is marriage. She doesn't want to get married. All she wants to do is fight with swords and have adventures." Robb said.
Both lady and lord Stark sighed. Robb was right. Even if they did want to betroth Arya, she would be difficult. As things were going now, they'd have a hard time finding a worthy suitor for her, especially, if she acted this way, years from now.
Jon interrupts there musing.
"Now comes the hard part of the request. My lord and Lady, I chose to propose Arya's betrothal because, I can see her and Trystane as a great match. He is mild mannered and contemplative while she is rash and bullheaded. I see them becoming great together. It is with this in mind that I offer my next request. I wish to take lady Arya as my squire. When I return to Dorne, I will take both her and Trystane as my squires. Trystane, has been nipping at my heels to become my squire and I finally relented. With them working side by side, I see a great relationship forming and having a great relationship is the first step in having a great marriage."
Lady Catelyn was torn. Although, she wanted to have Arya betrothed, the thought of her learning to fight worried her.
"What about her studies? How will she learn to run a household when all she does is train in swordsmanship?" Catelyn asked.
"She will maintain her studies every third day. Trust me my lady, she will have all the tutelage she needs in running a household. In Dorne, running and defending a household is the same thing. Plus, when she inhabits Moat Caitlin, I'm sure you'll be there to patch up any of her delinquencies." Jon said.
Catelyn didn't really have an answer for that. This smooth talking Dornishman had an answer for everything.
"When do you need your answer? This decision will take time." Lord Stark said.
"By the end of the week my lord. I have been away from home for too long. At the end of the week I plan to take a ship from White harbor. It will be considerably faster than waiting for the king to go back." Jon said.
"Very well. Let us think on this. You'll have your answer by the end of the week." Ned said.
Great Grass Sea…
Drogo looked at all the revelry and smiled. Today was his wedding day and he couldn't be happier. He wished that his brother Jon could have come but, he knew that he could not. Westeros was far away and he didn't have the patience of waiting. As he looked at the white tresses that caressed his new brides figure, he couldn't wait to have her. She would provide strong sons.
Her name was Daenerys, and she was supposed to be a dragon princess. A descendent from the line of old Valerya. A blood line as strong as his own. Her brother asked for his army's allegiance in taking back the Iron throne but, he knew his khal's would never go for it. Westeros was given to the western Khal, Jon, of their own free will. It was part of their charter that only Jon and his descendants would rule Westeros as their only Khal. The fact that he was not king didn't matter. As far as the Nations charter was concerned, there was only one Khal in Westeros, and his name was Jon.
He had made promises to the foolish prince but, he didn't intend to keep them. What he did intend to do was something more doable. He would give Daenerys and his heirs the land of their ancestors. He would give them back Valerya because, that he could do. As his female Dothraki approached with his new bride, all those thoughts were driven from his mind. Now he only had one thought, and that thought consumed him. That thought was one simple word.." Bedding"
Well, there goes another chapter. I probably won't update for awhile because i feel my muse leaving me. So be prepared for a dry spell. Well, I atleast introduced Dany didn't I. lol. As always read and review. I'm always wondering what you guys think. PS. Thank you to all the people following this story. We just passed 500 follows and having that many followers makes it easier to churn out chapters knowing they are going to be read. So thanks.