Tourney time!

Chapter 5: The Mystery Knight

Jaime

He watched his student rant and rage about not being able to compete in the melee, and he couldn't help but sigh over the matter.

'Poor Ned Stark, your dislike of me stretches far.' He thought with an amused smirk and rubbed his chin. He does have a plan to help his student enter the melee, but he fears it might get him in trouble with Stark even more than he already has, or Arthur could finally show his potential and take another step towards greatness.

A lone thought then came to him, about what his sister had asked him a few days past. She asked him why he is trying so hard with Arthur, he's a bastard and a Stark and it was a first where he grew angry with his other half. He turned to her with such a disappointed look that it could give their father a run for his money, he then told her the reason he favors the boy.

"He reminds me of my self, a desire to be great and achieve his dreams. He is also the nephew of the man who taught me everything that I am now, I owe it to the real Arthur to aid his nephew as he had done to me."

She had huffed and thrown him out, telling him not to return unless he comes to apologize. He might not be honorable in the eyes of other but he is, and he is prideful. He won't apologize and just to run his point across, he will still help Young Arthur in his dream of being great, an example of the namesake he was given at birth.

"Arthur, Arthur? Arthur!" He said loudly to get the boys attention back to him. He got up and put a hand on Arthur's shoulder and looked into his eyes, "I have a plan. Just follow my lead, alright?" He smiled and Arthur nodded, ready and willing. "First: Armor."

Hours Later...

He watched with everyone else as Ser Meryn defeat his opponent, with a brutish force like the brute himself. He looked down and saw Ned's youngest ask where Arthur was and he decided to pitch in and answer for the man.

"He is preparing my horse for the joust, worry not little one." He spoke and received a look from Eddard like he had stolen the last piece of bacon at breakfast. Arya had also sent him a glare, and to him, it appeared the apple didn't fall far from the Heart Tree. Letting a sigh escape him he stood and waited for the next match to be called.

Most if not all of the thirty warriors that have fought today was, and he'd like to be crueler for it was horrendous. Not one of them had much skill, just brute force or were swinging their weapons like his nephew would. The last two entries though had some skill, and he put his gold towards the best one in the last bout which will take to the field soon.

Therein lies the difficult steps, Meryn Trant and Thoros of Myr now stand as the finalist with the winner of this going to fight the victor of this next match.

"Lothar Brune, Freerider of the Crownlands!" The announcer called and a stalwart warrior stomped onto the field, his dark helmet showing not but his eyes, dark eyes. Moments later a boy the age of ten ran up to the man and whispered into the announcer's ear, seeing the man clear his throat and speak, "We have one more entry. Introducing the Wandering Warrior, Galahad of Long Lake!"

And he smiled as his student walked onto the field, dressed in the best suit of armor he could find. It was his set of armor when he served in Aerys Kingsguard, silver and sadly they had to cover the three-headed dragon with a bolt of cloth in the color of grey. The helmet was one he borrowed from a fellow knight and promised he'd return it when he was finished. It was much like Lothar's in viability, only his eyes were visible to see.

The Hedge Knight and Wandering Fighter made a bow to the King and then to the Hand, Robert scoffed, "Enough with the bloody pomp- Have at him!" It wasn't particularly spoken to either of the two, all Robert cares for is to get to the fighting. He and the Oaf have that one thing in common, except he holds to higher standards than simply charging and smashing.

'Come on Arthur, you can do this.' He thought and as if on instinct his student looked up to him. He nodded for him to continue on if only he did nothing as Eddard noticed this. He narrowed his eyes and turned back to the match, hoping the Northern Warden doesn't think too much into it. Right now it is Arthur's time to shine and show his potential with the sword.

Both men circled each other before launching at one another, Lothar quickly went to the offense; attacking hard with his mace onto Arthur's shield. He watched intently as his student held his ground and kept his shield firm to take the knights blows, and waited for his own chance to launch an attack. The crowd knows Lothar, so they all began cheering for their champion.

Yet his student has his own followers, himself and Tommen, then there are some of the more lowborn people. Lastly was the Kings own blooded daughter, she was told by Arthur before the tourney began, the very symbol being the blue ribbon on Arthur's sword-arm, a token of the bastards blessing. "Get him Galahad! You can do this!" He heard her shout it to Arthur. His sister huffed and turned to her step-daughter.

"You know him?" Mya choked and cleared her throat to answer Cersei, he sighed and continued watching the battle.

"Only once or twice, during my trips into the city." Clever girl to lie, his sister bought it and turned from her. Mya looked at him and nodded to him, and he did the same before getting back to the fight.

Arthur was finally able to get some ground, fighting like the wolf on his father's banners. He watched Arthur kick Lothar back, digging in and pushing back with his shield. Ten minutes later the two men were backed up and taking a breath to ready for the next blows to each other, and when it happened he could see his student's training had truly paid off, it was awe inspiring.

First Arthur charged the knight, slashing right and left before jumping forward to Lothar's left and shield bashed the mans shield from his person. Arthur then threw his own shield away, putting both hands on his sword and nudging for the knight to come at him, and Lothar did as he swung madly with his mace that Arthur would smoothly evade away from. The Knight looked tired from the fight, showing by how slow his swings were becoming and it was then his student did it. Arthur swung low and with speed on his side was too quick for Lothar to respond, then a straight slash and thus disarmed his opponent. Arthur looked triumphant as he won his first match, now just one more stand in his way.

'Good job, Arthur. Knew you could do it.' He thought as watched Arthur leave, only to notice Eddard was also missing, 'Oh no.'

Arthur

"Now that was excellent!" He told himself as soon as he gotten back to some privacy, a bright smile on his face for the achievement he accomplished today.

He went over and splashed some water on his face, the beads of sweat and another mixing with the cold fluid. A few minutes later he was finally able to give himself and his mind a breather, thinking about what will happen next in the next hour after his last two adversaries have fought each other.

Meryn Trant is a member of the Kingsguard, from the order of some of the greatest swordsmen in Westeros. Jaime once said only him, Ser Barristan and Ser Arys were the only knights worth the title while the rest are brutes and don't adhere to the vows they had taken. With all due respect, he is still fearful, this man fought in two wars along with the other man.

Thoros of Myr is a master of the blade, preferring Wildfire to fuel his sword. Word was he was first through the breach on Pyke, taking down one man after the other. To be honest it is scarier than facing a member of the Kingsguard, still, he has to face it... If he is to win, both of these men he'll have to go through to be the champion.

"I knew it was you, hard to get a horse ready when you are fighting."

He turned sharply to sound and his eyes widened at the sight of his father standing there, a disappointed look on his face like it had been since his fight with Sansa at dinner. His breathing and heartbeat started to rise as he imagined the next several minutes, a lot of arguing back and forth about competing any further.

"Father- " He attempted to speak but the older wolf stopped him from doing so, it was irritating.

"Not another word. I said you couldn't compete, it is too dangerous." He didn't understand what he was saying, he and Jon and the others all trained for fights like this. What is so dangerous about competing in a non-lethal competition.

"But I must, or else I will never be remembered other than that bastard son of Lord Stark! Why can't you see that?!" it might have seemed childish but its true, him and Jon have always had the plague of only being the bastard sons of Lord Stark and Lady Dayne, nothing more and nothing less. Jon might have wanted a family, but he wanted to cast his own shadow of glory.

"Because it's dangerous. Meryn and Thoros, they are experienced soldiers- " He scoffed at his father's next excuse to take him out of the melee, it didn't work as well as he might have wanted to.

"And I'm not? I just defeated a knight of renown. Father. Why can't I compete?" He asked once more and hoped he gets a better answer than he's already done,

"Because I promised your mother to keep you safe." His father shouted and it made him flinch, his father never shouted at them.

More ever this is the third time his and Jon's mothers had been mentioned, once when they were ten and once before Jon went to the Wall. He's always dreamed of going south, to see the family he's never met other than the rare gifts and letters sent. Reining himself back to now he finally notices the tension between them for a moment, but he stood firm and stared down his father. The horn blew that the match between Meryn and Thoros have ended, meaning his time has come.

Placing his helm back onto his head he held his head high as he walked slightly past his father, stopping to talk without so much as looking at him.

"Father. I want to fight for myself, for Jon... And you. To make you proud. Be proud, father." With those words spoke he walked out and saw his mentor standing there, he gave a single nod and continued on his way.

He has a melee to win.

Eddard

The Hand of the King sighed and shook his head, not wanting to be in this pavilion another minute longer he walked out to see Jaime Lannister. He grunted and tried to walk past the man but Jaime stood in front of his path, now he is quite annoyed. "Let me by?" He asked with pursed lips, he is too close to losing his temper in this mans presence.

"He is a wolf, just not your wolf, eh?" He grabbed the Kingslayer by the neck and pushed him against a wall, yet the dishonorable fool wouldn't even flinch.

The Kingslayers remark about his son being defiant was said so smugly, the man probably no doubt takes credit for turning his son to this path. He knows this is wrong, he should remain stoic as he's always been but the wolf-blood appears at strange times, often during moments of anger and it is very much anger he feels towards the son of the child-killing Tywin Lannister.

"Stay away from my son, he doesn't need you to be great. Kingslayer!" He spat and Jaime's face became hard, placing a hand on his own and pushed him away slightly.

"Ah, and what a King he was. Tell me, Lord Stark, would you be so honorable in my position at the time, to stand and watch Stubborn Brandon and Protective Rickard being burned alive? Tell me, would you stop a man from turning the entire city to cinders?!" He was set aback by Jaime's response to him.

Truth, the truth is he doesn't know. The laws of the Kingdoms state a member of the Kingsguard's duty is to protect the King no matter his sins. Yet would he, a man whose life surrounds around family and honor stay true to those laws? Or would his anger: Which he had plenty of at the time take justice into his own hands. 'No' He thought as he began backing up, he isn't going to entertain such thoughts on the Mad King and his father and brother.

"Eddard Stark!" Jaime shouted for him to stop, what does he want now? He turned to give a single glance to Jaime, for all the good it would do him. "I heard it all. In there. It's true, he wants to take a step away from the titles of Bastard of Winterfell like the other one. He wants to give his name meaning. He will show you this in the match today."

He left not too long after Jaime finished and went back to the Melee Grounds where Thoros had lit his sword aflame, worried he looked to his son. Alas, he saw to weakening to his frame, no worries towards Thoros flaming sword, his son was standing stoic and shield and sword ready. The two staring down one another reminded him of his fight at the Tower of Joy.

Both Arthur and his son share this in common, a readiness to accept a challenge. The hint of a smile soon found him and he sighed, 'Good luck, Arthur. May the gods, and your uncle and mother watch over you.' He thought as he climbed the stairs and took a seat next to Arya, the horn blew after and the match between the Fire Worshiper and the Wolf began.

Arthur

"You can still surrender, boy. You wouldn't be called a coward."

He steeled himself at Thoros taunts towards him and got himself into a stance, he won't be deterred by words but steel if the gods and luck be cruel to him.

"Enough talk. Shall we begin?" He challenged after the horn blew, Thoros wore no helm so his grin was quite wide.

"Gladly!"

The man proved his quickness as Thoros darted at him with four quick thrusts, three of which he luckily deflected through the fourth made contact with his side. Wildfire doesn't have weaknesses and burns mostly anything but thankfully his opponent's blade hadn't been there too long. He backed up and waited for his turn as Thoros struck him several more times before he started his own offensive.

Like a whirlwind he spun left and his sword in his hand, Thoros evaded and drove a thrust which he stopped with his shield. Back to the offensive he slashed right and left several times, six in total and three of them were able to shred at Thoros gambeson which under it was a layer of ring-mail. 'Damn it all!' He thought as he had to think of another tactic.

And that was to get the warrior on his back and force him to yield by word rather than wound, so he stretched his neck to crack before charging back in.

A thrust here, a push there. Thoros of Myr proved to be more good in defense rather offense, yet he would try to defeat him one way or the other. The crowd around them cheered and booed for their favorite warrior, looking behind him he saw his father looking back and what he saw was pride, his father was finally proud of his competing in the challenge.

On the upper base of the stage were Jaime and Mya, both cheering for him to go on and he consciously looked at the ribbon tied to his hand. Mya's favor might be giving him more luck than skill alone, and he welcomes the aid. Setting his eyes back to his opponent, Thoros looked at him amusingly and lowered his blade and placed a hand on his waist.

"Having second thoughts? Or perhaps you need a break? Either way, you stand between me and gold, boy. So bring me your all or surrender." Thoros taunted and laughed at him.

Feeling the infamous wolf blood circling he snarled and darted for the warrior, hacking and hammering at the man for saying such a thing to him. Sadly enough his rage didn't help him at every single hit he gave, the swings weren't even making it onto the man's person, just air. He cursed his anger and tried to rein in his rage but Thoros found his disadvantage and laid in more insults to further anger him.

"Stop fighting. The more you swing the more that makes this fight quicken to its end. Or perhaps you want it to, and you don't want to fight anymore." He roared and slashed hard, Thoros moved left and elbowed him in the head, his helm taking the blow but its still derailing his concentration. He tried to back away and get ahold of himself but Thoros slashed at him until he tripped and fell on his back, in a real fight he would be dead at this moment. Thoros smiled and pointed his sword at him, the heat of the fire making him sweat, "Yield?" Thoros asked.

"Don't give up!" He heard Mya shout to him, "You give up and I will never forgive you!" She threatened and he took a deep breath and got up to his feet, slowly and without his shield.

"No. It will be you that yields to me, not the other way around." He muttered and Thoros nodded before backing up and giving him some space to ready himself.

'These next few moments is for my mentor, Mya, father. And my brother and late mother... This is for you!'

He removed his dirk and with that and his sword charged the Fire Warrior, giving a hard slash from his sword and thrusting towards the neck with his dirk. The look in Thoros eyes was short but he saw it, nervousness. He persisted in his double-bladed barrage of attacks, forcing the warrior to back up until he hit the wall. Turning his dirk upside down he slashed the weapon which grazed the man's cheek then using the flat end of his sword slammed it on Thoros own sword-hand which caused the flaming steel to drop to the sand and flame die out.

"Now. You yield!" He roared as the dirk in his other hand rested against Thoros neck, no killing is allowed but the threat of it works enough. Knowing he'd have lost the older man raised his hands up, signaling the end of the match and his victory.

The crowd cheered his name, but it isn't truly his name. The glory is his for the taking, and he has it. The King called for him to come to the dais that he was sitting on and knelt.

"Good man to win, not many could best Thoros. You are a warrior, Galahad. Remove your helm and let me look at you."

And he did, his dark hair and eyes being shown to everyone around him, the Queen and Crown Prince were contorting in anger, Jaime and the Hound looked amused, and the young Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella were shocked. The King and he looked at one another before the older man barked in laughter, completely amused by this event of triumph for him.

"What a joy this is, Ned Starks son being like Ole Selmy." Barristan gave him a nod, the man who entered a joust without permission and was called the Bold by his uncle Arthur. "Rise, lad." He did so and the King rose from his seat and put both of his big hands on his shoulders, "I would forget the animosity on the Kingsroad, and you did it this day. Tell me, is that my Mya's favor on your wrist?" The King asked him and he thought about it before answering him.

"Yes, your Grace." He answered and the King gestured for his daughter to come forth.

"Mending the bridge I smashed when I let Illyn whip you, it hung over me like a sword ready to remove my head. Until one day I had a thought." Robert nudged his daughter forward, "To tie you and Mya would ensure peace with both our Houses, I give you my daughter to take to wife."

It was all happening so fast, marriage? With Mya? He didn't know what to say about it all. Mya is handsome, a beauty with long black hair and the eyes of the ocean. And yes, over the weeks and soon months he will freely admit she had become a good friend, but can he truly see her as a woman to marry, both of them are bastards so there isn't anything political about it. She looked at him, nervous and an embarrassed blush growing on her cheeks, and a hint of the same feeling he is feeling too.

"I... I don't... Your grace, allow me to think this through." He asked. This is a decision to think about and not rush into.

"Ah, Very well. Just don't keep me waiting." The King said and raised his hand up, "Cheer for your champion you cunts! Arthur Snow!"

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Have a toothache that wont leave me alone! So I couldn't concentrate. The rest of the tourney will be building on Mya and Arthur relationship along with a few interactions between Arya, Jaime, and Eddard. This is all in the next chapter but afterward shit will be hitting the fan.

10868letsgo, I would agree wholeheartedly. Sansa though soon will get a rude awakening and see fiction from reality. Arthur and Mya will grow through the fate of that is in the Old Gods hands.

GoT Fan, Yep too naïve but in defense, she was only ever told the romances of the south. Don't want to spoil the other half of the review but hint: He wont be happy.

Sparky She-Demon, Yes he will get Dawn, but not for some time (Maybe chapter 30 but don't quote me on that). Starfall will make a appearance somewhere but haven't really pinpointed it out on Chapter length yet.

Melubarv, Thank you for liking it. I will put to task on making these chapter right.

FuZzvKiNgZz, I did have a scene written but it never sounded right.