21
JON

Jon Snow noticed a considerable improvement in Gendry's attitude after he and Arya snuck off the other night when they thought everyone slept. Jon was very much awake, but he didn't follow the pair when they went off to fight or make love or some combination of the two.

Arya would always be his feisty little sister in his eyes, but he was happy that she was so content in her marriage to Gendry. It was still uncomfortable when they would kiss or make suggestive eyes at each other, but he kept silent.

As he rode atop his horse, he remembered the conversation he had with his father about accompanying Arya and Gendry on their travels.

Jon had been in the yard of the Red Keep, training with some of the Southron knights. He bested most of the men, but humbly accepted instruction from some of the elder knights. Jon Snow may have been an excellent swordsman, but he was nothing if not humble. Lady Catelyn had always made sure he never grew overly confident in any regard.

When he finally grew tired and decided to retreat back to his chambers, he noticed his father on the edge of the yard, watching him. He loved when Ned would watch him train. More often than not in Winterfell, he would join Jon and the master-at-arms. Even though Ned watched all of his sons practice swordplay, Jon always felt as though it was their special thing. It was why Jon worked harder on his sword-work than on anything else. Ned spent time with Robb, Bran, and even little Rickon on what it takes to rule lands and be a lord, but Jon had no need of any of that knowledge. As a bastard, he would never have the responsibilities that his brothers would. But becoming a master swordsman was something Jon could do and his father dedicated extra time to watching and teaching Jon to become as fine a fighter as he possibly could.

"You were a little sloppy towards the end there, Jon," his father said with a smile. "You're lucky that Ser Rylan was already half in his cups."

"C'mon, Father," he said grinning. "I've been training all morning. I'm tired."

Ned nodded, still looking at his son with proud eyes. "I came to ask something of you."

Jon waited for his father to continue.

"You've heard that your sister and Prince Gendry intend to travel and see the realm?"

Jon nodded. Arya had excitedly told him last night of all the places she would finally get to see. He was thankful that his friend Prince Gendry was so eager to please his wife.

"Well, your sister absolutely refuses to allow a group of knights to accompany them," Ned continued.

Jon chuckled. "I suspected as much."

"Obviously we can't have Prince Gendry and Arya traipsing across Westeros unguarded. It's out of the question."

Jon nodded, wondering where his father was going with this conversation.

"I think the only way she'll agree to the guards is if you are among them."

Jon immediately protested. "Father, no. We are leaving for Winterfell in a week."

Ned nodded. "Yes, that's true, but I would like you to accompany Arya and the Prince on their travels to keep her safe. From what I've seen in this yard and on countless other occasions, you are more than able to perform that duty."

"Father, when we ride for Winterfell, I want to continue North and join the Night's Watch. You know that!"

Jon was furious. Each time over the last four years that Jon intended to go to the Wall, his father came up with some excuse for why he could not join just yet. Jon was nineteen years old and more than old enough to become a man of the Night's Watch.

"I know you do, but I'm asking you to do this for your sister, for her safety," Ned said firmly.

"Father! Are you ever going to give me leave to join the Watch?" Jon finally exclaimed. He normally didn't take this tone with his father, but four years of frustration were pouring out of him.

Ned was silent for a long time and turned his head away from Jon. When he finally spoke, it was a simple answer. "I don't know."

"Why?" Jon implored. "Uncle Benjen is First Ranger! If he can join the Night's Watch, why can't I?"

"Jon, it is a heavy commitment and it is a difficult life. The land north of the Wall is unforgiving and uncomforting," Ned said, facing his son once again.

"I'll have no forgiveness or comfort south of the Wall either! I'll never be a Lord or hold lands. I don't fit in here! At the Wall, the Brothers of the Night's Watch would accept me. My birth would make no matter."

"Jon, there is plenty that you can do away from the Wall. Have you not thought about any other life for yourself?" Ned questioned.

Jon turned away from his father, facing the stables. He didn't reply.

"I made a promise a long time ago to always look out for your best interest and protect your happiness as fiercely as I would protect your life. I truly believe that you will not be happy on the Wall, Jon. I would let you go if I thought it was best, but I don't. Even Benjen has implored me not to send you to the Wall," Ned said quietly.

His father's words captured Jon's interest and he couldn't remain silent. "Why doesn't Uncle Benjen want me to join the Watch?"

"Because he believes you won't be happy, either. He'd never say it, but I honestly believe he regrets joining the Night's Watch. It's a commitment for life and when he was eighteen, he didn't truly understand how long a lifetime is. Now he does."

Jon kicked a stone across the yard before he finally exhaled. How could Father think that I want to do anything else but join the Night's Watch? It's all I've ever wanted to do. Another voice in his head chimed in. It's all I've ever thought I would be able to do.

"Father, what else would you have me do?" Jon asked, trying to determine what future Ned Stark imagined for his bastard-born son.

"You could become a knight. You could become Winterfell's master-at-arms someday. You could become a member of the Kingsguard even."

Jon Snow had never considered a life as one of the Kingsguard. He had no desire to guard King Robert, but someday Gendry would be King and Arya would be Queen. Perhaps that wouldn't be so terrible. But in King's Landing, Kingsguard or not, he would still be a bastard. On the Wall, half the men there were bastards, it would be nothing remarkable.

His father knew he was thinking. "Accompany Arya and Gendry on their travels and think on what I've said. When you escort them safely back to King's Landing, if you still truly want to join the Night's Watch, I'll allow it. Consider every future for yourself, Jon. There are many paths you could take and it would be foolish to only consider one route."

Jon had continued to think on his father's words and suggestions for his future. The longer he traveled with Gendry and Arya, the more he felt like a Kingsguard already. Yet, he was still a long way away from giving up his dream of the Night's Watch.

They were riding day and night, stopping only for a few hours of sleep. They often didn't bother with inns or castles along their route, sleeping under the trees on the hard ground. He felt sorry for his friend, on the brink of losing his father and gaining control of a kingdom. Jon knew that Gendry was not eager to become King and that his relationship with his father was strained at best.

When they were less than a day's ride from King's Landing, Gendry ordered the party to stop and rest. It was unusual, because up until that point, Gendry had refused everyone's requests to stop and rest their horses. The Prince dismounted his horse and whispered something to Arya. She nodded and he walked away, in the direction of a lake they had passed earlier. He probably wanted to bathe, not wanting to arrive in King's Landing covered in muck.

Arya walked over and sat on a log beside him.

"Gendry's gone to bathe?" he inquired.

Arya nodded. "He seems better."

"Aye, he does. There's still a heavy air around him, though."

"He'll be King soon by the sound of it," Arya said sighing. "That'll make me Queen."

"Poor Westeros…" Jon said, shaking his head, fighting a smile.

She elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut up. It's bloody awful."

"You'll be great, Arya."

"Right," she replied, her tone laden with sarcasm.

Jon grabbed her hand. "I'm serious. Just remember what I told you months ago when you didn't even want to meet the man who is now your love. Be yourself. That's all anyone can ever do."

She put her head on his shoulder. "I love you."

He smiled and stroked her hair. "I love you, too, little sister."

"I don't know what I'll do when you go to the Wall, Jon," she said, catching Jon by surprise. He hadn't expected her to bring that up.

"You'll be alright. You've got Gendry," he replied.

She nodded and looked up at him. "I know. I love him, truly I do. But I've only loved him for a few months. I've loved you my entire life. I can't imagine what it will be like to go years without seeing you."

He sighed, feeling guilty and sad at the thought of not seeing Arya for so long. "I can't either, but soon you'll have little princes and princesses who take up your time and you'll forget all about my frozen arse on the Wall." He expected her to laugh, but she didn't.

Arya took his face in her hands and he could see the fire of intensity burning in her eyes. "Don't ever say that. I'll never forget you, Jon. You're my best friend and my favorite brother."

He kissed her forehead and pulled her into a tight hug. He truly loved Arya more than anything. She was the one Stark who always treated him like her equal. She stood up for him when Lady Catelyn would belittle him and fought for him to be included in everything the Stark children did. How can I abandon her? She is my one true friend.

She let him go and pushed him away lightly, clearly embarrassed from her feminine display. "Stop hugging me! You're turning me into a lady!"

He laughed and replied, "I don't think anything could turn you into a proper lady," ducking from her subsequent blow.

She surprised him by grabbing a guard's discarded sword from the ground and held it out in front of her, daring him to duel.

He laughed and unsheathed his sword. The pair clashed swords for a few minutes, smiling the whole time. Jon loved how Arya could make something he took so seriously so fun and light-hearted. Thanks to him she wasn't half bad with a sword either.

Eventually they grew tired and she tossed the stolen sword to the side, lying back on the grass and breathing heavily. Jon sheathed his sword and sat on the ground beside her.

Jon saw Gendry approaching, his hair slick and his face free of grime for the first time in a week.

"What kind of trouble have you two gotten into?" Gendry called, seeing them breathless on the ground.

"Practicing my sword fighting skills in case I ever need to teach you a lesson, dear husband," Arya replied, smirking at Jon.

"Oh, I'll live in fear every day," Gendry mocked. He stood next to the pair. "Arya, you should go wash before we ride into the city. You look like you've been making mud angels."

She laughed. "You take one bath in over a week and all the sudden you've got japes for me." She stood anyway and made her way to the lake.

"I see you're teaching my wife how to fight again," Gendry said with a smile.

Jon nodded. "She's got to learn if she's married to the likes of you. You can barely hold the sword properly."

Gendry laughed and shook his head. "Well neither of us would have to learn if you chose the Kingsguard over the Wall, Jon."

Jon was surprised that Gendry had mentioned the Kingsguard. He wondered whether he was serious or just jesting.

The Prince spoke again. "You know, someday probably in the not so distant future there will be a new King who will appoint new members of the Kingsguard when older ones die out."

Jon shrugged his shoulders. "You know my father suggested the Kingsguard to me before we left on this adventure."

"I know," Gendry replied. "He came to Arya and I a few weeks before we left and explained that he wished for you to stay in King's Landing and work your way up to the Kingsguard."

"He did?" Jon was truly shocked now. His father never mentioned that and neither had Gendry or Arya during their long travel together.

Gendry nodded. "You know he wanted us to convince you not to join the Watch. He appealed to Arya, hoping that she would guilt you into staying by her side."

"Why didn't she?" Jon asked honestly, surprised that his sister kept this from him. Hadn't she just been saying she would miss me terribly if I left her for the Wall?

Gendry looked at him like he was stupid. "Jon, she knows how important becoming a Ranger like Benjen is to you. She would never ask you to give that up."

Jon knew how his sister favored him and considered him her best friend, but he never imagined that Arya could love him so selflessly. Both their father and Arya knew that she was the only person who could bend him to her will. He was like putty in her hands and if Arya asked him to stay by her side, he would.

Suddenly leaving Arya to go to the Wall seemed much more serious. He wouldn't just be leaving his sister or his friend; he would be leaving someone who loved him selflessly. He would be leaving someone who wanted him to be happy more than she wished for her own happiness. The notion took the wind out of him and he had to sit down.

Gendry saw he was thinking deeply and left him. It was a quality that Jon appreciated in Gendry. He always knew when someone needed to be left to their own thoughts.

Jon sat on the log, his mind swirling with the possibility of not joining the Night's Watch. It was the only future he'd ever allowed himself to imagine. For the first time, he began picturing himself in white as opposed to the stark black of the Watch. He didn't know what choice he would make, but he knew that either way, Arya would support him and love him all the same.