Chapter 27:
JON
Jon was asleep when he heard the cell door open. When his eyes opened, he saw a flame coming nearby, a flame lit from a torch which was being held by--
"You."
"Yes, me," the woman clad in red said as she smiled at him.
"What are you doing down here?"
"I came to set you free, my Prince."
"Don't call me that. As far as I'm concerned, Ned Stark is and will always be my father, not Rhaegar Targaryen, despite what His Grace says." Jon paused, before looking up at her in confusion. "Why would you help me escape? Especially since you revealed my true parentage to the whole realm and placed my family in danger."
"I thought it was best for him to understand the importance of your destiny," the red woman said.
"So much good that has done," Jon retorted.
"I fear so, my Prince," said the red woman. "I'm afraid the king seeks to harm you and yours."
"That doesn't surprise me in the least bit," Jon sighed. "However, the Hand is a good friend to both my father and--"
"I'm afraid Lord Arryn cannot keep Robert Baratheon's fury from being held any longer," the Red Woman said. "He has just been arrested by the Usurper, along with two others."
"What for?" Jon exclaimed in surprise.
"Isn't it obvious, my Prince? For swearing loyalty to you, the rightful king of Westeros."
"I am not the rightful king of Westeros! I never was," said Jon.
"You are your father's heir," said the red woman.
"Ned Stark is my true father," Jon said. "Can't you understand that I want nothing to do with the Iron Throne? All it has ever brought to my House is death and destruction."
"That is why you must take your rightful place, my Prince."
"Are you even listening to yourself?! You say that I've been chosen by your Lord to lead the fight against the White Walkers, yet you're saying that I should contest King Robert for his crown, a crown that I do not want, might I add?" Jon shook his head. "Why do you continue to insist on doing so?"
"Because your brother is dead."
Jon's eyes widened at that as his mouth fell open in shock.
"What did you just say?" Jon breathed out harshly.
"Your brother is dead," said the red woman. "The usurper murdered him in the forest, along with your wolves."
Jon's laborous breathing increased at the implications of her words, while his heart felt like it had been smashed by Robert Baratheon's warhammer, the same warhammer that smashed his real father's chest at the Trident.
It couldn't be, not Bran! Tears welled up in Jon's eyes as memories of the brother, who looked up to him, and asked for tips in archery, who loved to climb--
Now he would no longer do those things... all thanks to Robert fucking Baratheon.
Jon's reddened eyes looked up slowly to the red woman.
"I want King Robert to pay for this."
The Red Woman smiled.
JAIME
"So your squire was the son of Rhaegar fucking Targaryen," said the Hound, who was joined together with his liege lord in the same cell.
"Is it really so hard to believe, Clegane?" said Jaime.
"Not so hard to believe since you basically went against everything your late lord father wanted," the Hound said.
"Fuck my father in all the Seven Hells, where he is right now," said Jaime. "Fuck everything that he and House Lannister stood for. May he continue to burn in the Seven Hells, where he belongs."
The Hound barked a harsh laugh. "And I thought you Lannisters were all the same blonde pompous twits of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Not all of them."
Jaime and the Hound both turned in surprise to the voice that just spoke outside their cell and couldn't believe their eyes.
"Jon?"
"It's time, Jaime. It's time for Robert Baratheon to pay for what he has done to my House," Jon said before he turned back to the Red Woman who just stepped in sight. "It's time for me to take the throne."