10th Month of 298 A.C. King's Landing
Jon Snow
King's Landing smelled. It smelled of corruption and greed, he could not wait to leave the damned place. The red keep was the worst offender for this, it reeked of those who had given themselves over to the corruption and the greed and all the worst offences that Jon had been told of growing up. The journey had been a struggle, he did not like sea travel, and he missed Ghost, he had left his direwolf behind to serve as some protection for Joy. Joy, he missed her, truly he did. He missed her smile and her conversation, he wondered what she would say if he were to ask for her hand, but perhaps it was too soon. He had been tasked with speaking with Joffrey, and he dreaded every moment of it. He despised the prince, truly he did and could not understand why he had thought that the prince was good before. There was nothing but evil in the prince's heart, and yet he had to stand through all of it.
"So tell me Jon, why did my brother come to King's Landing with my uncles?" the prince asks.
Jon looks at the crown prince and says. "He came because he knew your grandfather Lord Tywin would be here Your Grace. And Lord Tywin has made the offer for Prince Tommen to become his heir and as such it seems that Prince Tommen wishes to accept that offer."
The crown prince looks intrigued by this. "So that's the angle my brother is using is it? He thinks he can come here and plot treason behind my back and that I will not figure it out."
"Your Grace?" Jon asks worried.
"My brother has come here not to accept my grandfather's offer but to have our father name him his heir. That is why he has come. From your letters and from my own thoughts that is what I have been able to work out. Did Tommen at any point mention me whilst you travelled south?" Joffrey asks.
Jon considers his answer for a long moment before he replies. "He mentioned that he was looking forward to meeting you again. And that he hoped that you both would be able to put aside whatever differences you had had when you were in Winterfell."
The crown prince snorts. "A likely story. He has stolen my betrothed and now he intends to remove me from the succession, from my rightful place. I will not have it truly I will not. Two can play at that game. Lancel."
The snivelling worm that is Lancel Lannister steps forward then and says. "Yes Your Grace?"
"You are to spend time with Tommen in the sparring yard tomorrow. I want you to see how much my brother has improved with a sword. And when the time is right, you are to spar with him." The crown prince says.
"Yes Your Grace." Lannister replies.
"Why are you having Lancel spar with Prince Tommen Your Grace?" Jon asks.
The smile that graces Prince Joffrey's face is terrifying then. It is animalistic. "Because Lancel is reasonably good with a sword, and my brother will feel even more confident after he beats Lancel. People make mistakes when they are over confident. And as such the boy is more likely to make boasts after the fact as well."
Jon is not sure he entirely understands. "So you want Prince Tommen to boast about his true intentions? But what guarantee is there that such a thing will happen?"
The smile is still firmly on the crown prince's face and it does truly worry Jon. "Because my brother is the sort of person who likes to boast about things after the fact, or perhaps even before the fact. You, yourself told me this Jon. And I do think Tommen will be more than willing to boast about something if he has just beaten you as well."
Jon is surprised by this he was not expecting this. "You wish for me to fight your brother Your Grace?" he asks confused.
The crown prince nods. "I do. You are my man are you not Jon?"
"Of course my prince." Jon says.
"Then you will fight Tommen. And as you are a far superior swordsman than my brother could ever hope to be, you will give him a tough round but will eventually lose. After such a victory, my brother will be more inclined to talk about things he might not otherwise speak of." The crown prince says.
Jon catches on then. "You think after beating me Prince Tommen will be far more likely to be in a talkative mood. And after a few drinks will tell me what he plan on accomplishing here?"
"That is exactly what I hope." Joffrey replies. "My brother is like my father in that he never knows when to stop talking or drinking. And that is something that will be beneficial to us all. You are someone he trusts, you can find out things far easier than I could."
Jon tries to hide a smile at how bitter the prince sounds at that. "I will do my utmost Your Grace. I will find out what I need to find out."
"Good." The crown prince replies.
It is then that Mors Rosby the oaf speaks. "So tell us Snow, what reason did Prince Tommen give for ending his brother's betrothal?"
Though the tone is Rosby's Jon knows the words are Joffrey's. He looks at Rosby and then the crown prince when he replies. "Prince Tommen is madly in love with my sister the Lady Sansa. So much so that he pressured her into ending her betrothal with you Your Grace. As far as I know Sansa did it through pressure not because she truly wanted to." A lie, and one he hates saying, but one he has been told to say.
The crown prince's eyes light up at that. "So the ending of this betrothal was non consenting? Very good. That gives me something to work with."
Worry forces Jon to ask. "What are you thinking Your Grace?"
The crown prince looks at Jon and the smile on his face causes Jon to shiver internally. "I am thinking that my brother's betrothal is null and void and that when the time comes I will have declared as such. I will marry Sansa, and that will be that. My brother will not be able to do anything about it for I will be king and he will be nothing."
Uncertain of what makes him say the next words out of his mouth Jon runs with it. "If you were to compete in the tourney as well Your Grace, I know that would do much to endear you to Sansa."
"What makes you say that Jon?" Joffrey asks.
Jon swallows and deciding to turn this to his advantage says. "I have spoken to Sansa, and I know she fears you are displeased or even angry with her for the breaking of the betrothal. I have tried to reassure her that you are not, but she does not believe me. She wants to be your wife, and I think that if you compete in the tourney and show her that you still care for her and want to be her husband she will feel happier."
"It will also make it easier for me to break my brother's betrothal as well. A very good plan Jon." Joffrey says.
"You were already thinking of competing the Melee were you not Your Grace?" Lancel asks his voice high and reedy.
"Of course, but the melee is not the thing people pay the most attention to. No Jon is right. To make it easier for my plan to come to fruition I must compete in the jousting and win. Only then can I make it so that Sansa is all but mine." Joffrey replies.
Jon knows something has changed. The allure that Joffrey had over him in Winterfell has gone, but there is something else. The prince continues speaking. "You will compete in the tourney as well Jon. I need as many of my own men competing so that this tourney is not awash with the fools fighting for my father's name."
Jon bows his head. "Of course Your Grace. I will fight for you and win glory for you."
Joffrey smiles and says. "Good, very good. Now tell me what more do you know about my brother's plots?"
Jon swallows, drawing up on the things he has been told to say. "Whilst we were sailing to King's Landing, Prince Tommen spoke with Ser Gerion about a great many things, one of which was it seems was ensuring more support for him at court. Driving away those men and women who are for you and your mother and putting more of their own men and women here. People to whisper in your father's ear about Prince Tommen." He pauses and sees the anger on Joffrey's face. He continues. "It also seems that this was more Ser Gerion's idea, for the man does not like you and sees you as a threat to his own ambitions."
The prince's lip curls into a snarl. "And how does he plan on removing me?"
"I do not know Your Grace, but what I know is that he intends to do it soon. I think that is why he has come here. He has not come for the tourney but to begin undermining your hold on the throne." Jon says. Blurting the words out, though knowing they are what he is supposed to say, they sound somewhat conceited.
Rage passes through Prince Joffrey's face, but then his expression goes calm and his voice is soft when he says. "Well it seems that my uncle is not above resorting to treason for his ambitions. I will not allow such a thing to stand. Gather more information for me Jon and you shall be well rewarded. It seems my uncle wishes for there to be chaos in the realm for his own ends."
"What will you do Your Grace?" Jon finds himself asking.
The prince merely smiles then, and is silent for a moment and then he speaks. "Why I will do what any good king would do. I will have my uncle found guilty of treason and killed. And I will ensure all his allies are killed. I will not suffer such treason in my kingdom."
That strikes Jon as odd and he asks. "Will you not go to the King Your Grace?"
The prince laughs, a sound that sends shivers up Jon's skin. "Oh come now Jon, you have seen my father. You have met my father. You know what his appetites are like. He will not live for long and besides he is more inclined to fuck and drink until a problem such as my uncle goes away than deal with it properly. No my father's days are coming to an end."
Jon shifts uncomfortably then and says. "As you say Your Grace. I am sure you know what is for the best."
Joffrey smiles and puts his hand on Jon's shoulder. "I know you have done something most difficult Jon. I reward those who are loyal to me. And you have been very loyal to me. Name me the one thing you want the most, and when I come to the throne I shall make it yours."
Jon feels something inside of him lurch at that. The one thing has only wanted, ever, it could be his. And yet he knows to accept that offer would be treason, and would be a betrayal of everything he stands for. He looks at the prince and says. "Thank you Your Grace. I know you are a man of your word. I will continue to be loyal for you are my king and I only wish to do what is right."
Jon sees the crown prince smile and hears something dangerous in his voice when he replies. "That is good, very good Jon. But there is one thing you must do, one task that must perform to show that you are truly loyal."
Jon suspects he knows what he is and still he says. "Name it Your Grace. And I will do it."
The crown prince smiles an evil smile. "Come to the crypts with me. And then you will be my most trusted friend."