11th Month of 298 A.C. Laughing Lion

Jon Snow

He did not like the way the ship moved, the Laughing Lion, which was Ser Gerion's ship shook and swayed on the waves and Jon felt as if he was going to be sick. He knew that his father and his sister Sansa felt the same, they were not meant for the sea it seemed. And yet the others were fine. The ship itself was marvellous, in the way that Ser Gerion made Lannister grandeur not seem completely preposterous, that was something Jon had often wondered about, how the man could be so unpompous and yet still be a Lannister. It was a question Jon had pondered many times as he had served Prince-he supposed King now- Joffrey, the man was every ounce of pomposity that his uncle and brother lacked, and Jon often wondered what he and others had seen in the boy.

Jon took the piece of parchment out from his breeches, and did as he so often had done during the journey when it was just him and Ghost. He looked at it, and his memories took him back to the day he was given it….

King Robert is dying, the whole court knows this, some whisper that he has been killed by his own wife, others by his brother, Lord Renly who has disappeared or seemingly done so. Jon does not know what the truth is, but from his knowledge of the King, if he truly has died from the poisoning of his insides due to excessive drinking it is not a surprise. The king truly was a man who gorged on his appetites. Not like his eldest son. Prince Joffrey looks regal, dressed in crimson red, the Lannister colours, Jon has often wondered why the crown prince dresses as such, it does make him a finer looking king than Tommen perhaps that is a good thing he does not know. When the crown prince looks at him, Jon stops his thoughts. "What is it that bothers you Jon? I have never seen you look so perplexed." The crown prince asks.

Jon looks at the man and says. "I do not know Your Grace. There is something in the air today, it seems to be making me nervous. Though there is no reason to be nervous for you shall of course ascend your throne by the end of today." Jon knows the crown prince has been waiting for this day for a long time, has heard it in his conversations both with the crown prince and with his fellow squires.

The crown prince merely smiles. "I thought so as well. My father is a man who drank too much and fucked too many women. It is no surprise to me that he is ailing now. When the time comes, I shall remove those who had a hand in his lifestyle and ensure that the court is purer."

Jon looks at the king and sees that he means it, he knows the crown prince has often found the court too stifling, too filled with idiots, and yet he endears himself to them and plays their games. It is something he has never been able to understand. "Of course you will Your Grace. And the realm shall stand behind you, for you are the one true king."

Jon notes the satisfaction in the crown prince's eyes at this, and hears it in his voice when he says. "Of course. My father's will might be the word of the king, but when he is gone, I am the king and I make the laws. My brother will have a place here if he so desires to listen to good sense. As will you Jon, for I reward those who are loyal to me."

Jon wants to tell the prince that he will never be his man, that he is already Tommen's and will always be Tommen's, and yet something stops him from doing so. He does not know what it is, but there is a bit of the charm of the crown prince that makes him not say the things he wants to say, and instead think the things he does not want to. "I am honoured Your Grace, and I am sure Prince Tommen will be as well. For brothers are always stronger together than apart."

The crown prince looks at him then, his eyes glinting in the light streaming through the curtains. "Tell me Jon, do you truly believe that is the case for all brothers? From what you have told me about yours, it seems he does not truly appreciate all you have done for him. It seems he has always lorded it over you, and that he is more southern than is good for the north."

Jon can feel the biting remark on his tongue, but the overwhelming feeling he has inside of him right now, is one of agreement. "You are right Your Grace, as you always are. Robb is someone who is blinded by his mother and the nonsense that the Tullys believe in. He will damn the north to Tully influence and our house will be cast down to the ruin because of it." As he speaks, Jon is surprised to find that he actually means what he says, and realises that the words he is speaking, are thoughts he has had for a long time. Robb will try and do right, and in trying to do so will end up breaking everything.

It seems the crown prince knows this for he asks. "And you believe you will not do such a thing, despite growing up in the same household? Do you believe you will make a finer Lord Stark than your brother would?"

Jon is horrified by the fact that he does not even need to think about his answer, before he replies. "I would. I know I would. I am more northern than my siblings ever could be."

Something malicious glints in the prince's eyes then, but before he can respond there is a knock on the door. The prince calls for whoever it is to come in, and Jon sees the Hound walk in and whisper something into the crown prince's ear. The crown prince smiles and says. "My friends, the good news we have all been waiting for has come. My father is dead."

At this they all stand, he, Lancel Lannister and Mors Rosby, they stand and then they get down on bended knee, and say the oaths they had practiced before, Jon's heart hammering. "We do hereby swear to you, King Joffrey of the House Baratheon, first of that name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First men, Lord Protector of the Seven Kingdoms that we as members of the Order of the Lion shall serve you until our dying breaths. Your wish is our command, your wish is our duty. We live to serve only you, and we shall see your enemies vanquished."

There is silence as the king takes their oaths, and then he speaks. "You may all rise, except for you Jon. I have a gift for you. My first act as king."

Jon looks at the king then, his heart hammering even more than it was beforehand. "Your Grace?" he asks in question.

The king draws his sword from his sheath and moves it to Jon's left shoulder. "I King Joffrey Baratheon, first of my name, do hereby invest in you the powers of Winterfell and the North. As King it is my privilege to legitimise those who are worthy of the honour." The king moves the sword to Jon's right shoulder. "And so I bestow upon you the name that has always been yours. You knelt Jon Snow, rise now Jon Stark."

Jon looks at the king in surprise he rises to his feet shaking slightly, before he can speak, the king presses a scroll into his hand. "The written proof of what I have done for you on this day Jon. Signed by myself, my mother and the High Septon. You are Lord of Winterfell now by my decree. Now go and do what you must."

The opening of the cabin door takes him out of his thoughts and he puts the piece of parchment away inside his pockets, and looks up to see Tommen walking in. The Prince- or is it King now, he does not know- looks at him a moment and then says. "You look as if you have seen a ghost Jon, what is the matter?"

Jon looks at his friend, and his king? And he does not know what to say, he does not want to lie, but at the same time, the truth would be far too damming and so instead he says. "It's travelling on a ship. It does not sit well with me I fear. Ghost does not like it overly much either." He nods to his direwolf curled on the floor.

His friend laughs, a great booming sound that reminds Jon of King Robert. "Ah, it is the same with Sansa. I left Durran with her, for it seems that my lion gives her great comfort. Gods I cannot wait to get off this damned ship though. I do not like the sea almost as much as you do Jon. Truth be told I would rather have travelled by horse but it was far too dangerous."

Jon nods, he is well aware of the why, he just wishes the ship would not sway so violently, perhaps it is a sign from the gods. Noticing his friend looking at him he speaks. "I know Your Grace. But perhaps it is better this way. At least then there is less chance of them catching us unawares, for Lord Stannis still holds most of the royal fleet."

His friend grimaces at the mention of Lord Stannis. "Don't talk to me about my damned uncles. They are a lot of traitors and cowards. Renly fled the capital like a craven, and my uncle Stannis? He has not stirred since Jon Arryn died, gods alone knows what he is doing on that damned island of his."

Jon nods. "It is passing odd how none would allow this ship toward Dragonstone. Having to sail around the island was passing strange. Do you think it has something to do with that red woman that we saw with Ser Davos?"

His friend sighs. "I do not know, but whoever and whatever is causing my uncle to do this, it is working. I fear we might not gather the numbers should war break out."

Jon looks at the king in surprise. "You think there is still a chance for peace? I had thought it was only war now that your father, King Robert, was dead."

Tommen looks at him strangely for a moment before he speaks. "So did I, but then my mother does not want my brother and I fighting. She never has, and perhaps there is still a part of her that is not so consumed by lust for power, that can be appealed to. And besides, my grandfather will want us at peace, for it benefits him for the realm to be so."

Something King Joffrey had said when Jon had been in his company before leaving King's Landing comes to mind then. "I do not think so Your Grace. After all my father did attack Ser Jaime."

"Only because my fool of an uncle attacked him first!" Tommen protests.

"Of course," Jon says his voice surprisingly calm. "But, Lord Tywin will see this as an attack on his favourite child. His golden son, he will want to get revenge."

His friend looks at him with surprise and then realization that gives way to anger. "Gods dammit. That was a trap, a trap to get my grandfather involved. We were played." The prince looks at him long and hard for a moment before saying something that sends shivers through Jon. "For a moment there you sounded like Joffrey."