Heir of Ice and Fire

by Ronin2106

Of the twin Bastards of Winterfell, Jayce has always been the wild one, always with a sharp wit and remark and no regard for rules, which saw him sent from Winterfell to White Harbor as ward. Yet when the Greyjoys rebel, Jayce Snow finds himself as a a sudden hero, and a ward to Laenor Velaryon, heir of Driftmark, and Rhaegar's once good friend, who vows to protect his only son.

6. Chapter 6

Several hours after the Trial by Combat

Of all the things that Jon Arryn had hoped to achieve in White Harbor and all the outcomes he had predicted or hoped to avoid, nothing could've possibly prepared him for what was arguably, the very worst scenario. He failed not only in restoring good relations between the North and the Riverlands, but has been publically shamed and humiliated before nigh all of North, Riverlands and The Vale by a bastard boy of Ned, of all people, with him also burning any potential there was for healing of wounds between Ned and his estranged wife, along with North and Riverlands.

Though it was an open secret at this point that Catelyn did indeed effectively killed Jon Snow, personally Lord of the Eyrie did not care one bit for one of Ned's baseborn mongrels, for in the eyes of Jon Arryn, bastards were nothing more but mongrels and parasites, below his notice and attention. And yet one those two bastards, the worst one that Jon Arryn ever met, Jayce Snow, seemed to be on a track of making his life a living nightmare, first by being legitimized, gaining fame and glory in Greyjoy Rebellion, and then at Gulltown, and now by defending the North and punishing the Sistermen. Lord of the Vale has always found Robert's fondness for the boy to be nuisance, but he did not expect for Stannis Baratheon of people to also be fond of him, yet he was as evidenced by the occasional praises he gave when hearing news of Jayce. Personally, Jon Arryn detested Jayce for the fact that he did not understand where his place was in the world, and instead of accepting it and fading into obscurity, actively tried to change it, and this ambitiousness and drive was something Lord Arryn found extremely troubling of the boy.

Not only was he brash and brazen, but he was undoubtedly exceptionally talented and skilled, as well as passionately involved in studies and trainings of all crafts that caught his attention, from what Jon Arryn heard and saw. Just the fact of him participating the Rebellion and then in several squire's tourneys, and then in sea battles, along with surviving proved that Jayce was no simple boy, and this presented a massive problem in Jon's eyes. The Lords of the North were fond of Jayce, and the fact that he fought for them and spilled blood bolstered that love, and though he was a Velaryon ward, it did not escape notice of Jon Arryn that Jayce continued to be fondly remembered and loved by the North, far more so than his older legitimate brother Robb Stark, son of Catelyn.

Though to Jon and other southern Lords, like Hoster Tully for example, Robb seemed like a perfectly good heir of the North in their eyes, in the eyes of the North, given his mother's actions and attitudes, it all was completely different. And given that Robb had a legitimate, famous and beloved younger brother in form of Jayce, who could tell when someone like Umbers or Karstarks may decide that they much prefer son of Ashara Dayne to Catelyn Tully's son. Actions of Catelyn towards Jon Snow didn't help the matter, and only served to ignite rumors of possible insanity of the woman, and that this affliction may've been contracted by her children. All this created a potential for a future disaster that Jon Arryn may not be able to avert, hence why he had spent a great deal of effort, coin and diplomacy to bring all of the lords of North, Riverlands and Vale here to White Harbor, to see their alliance reinforced…

…Only now it was all but shattered completely, destroyed the moment when Jayce Stark's sword slit Edmure Tully's throat and his blood soiled the floor of Merman's court but a few hours ago. And before that, Jayce openly admitted to defying Lord Hand's orders, killing the noble prisoners before all to see, and then invoking the Trial by Combat, to which he goaded Edmure and won, meaning that in the eyes of the Gods, the boy was innocent now. As much as he was seething inside, Arryn had to admit that Jayce's move was full-proof, for despite how sham it was, he did everything to make it legitimate, and he made it right. Hence why Jon couldn't have the brat executed, despite his deepest desire being exactly that, to see his head on a pike, Jon would only be igniting a war. A war, which now seemed to loom on the horizon…

"I don't fucking care that he invoked that damned Trial! He killed my son, my Heir and has all but ended by House with it! I'll have his head, Eddard Stark!" Hoster Tully hollered in the solar of Lord Manderly, where said lord, Ser Laenor Velaryon, Ned Stark, Brynden Tully and Jon Arryn were present. "First he humiliates and mocks us before the King, then steals Edmure's rightful trophy, and now this?! He destroyed the future of my House, and I will have his head, no matter what!"

"Careful with your words, Lord Tully, for in case you've forgotten, this is not Riverrun you are hollering in about." Wyman Manderly, whose grim expression hasn't softened since the news of his son's death and disgracing of his granddaughters, stated with steel in his tone. "Either you will watch your tone, or you'll find out what I do with those who break the rite of hospitality."

"That bastard has openly broken it, and yet you defend him?! Have you no damned shame or honor in you, your sea cow?" Hoster all but roared at Wyman, who glared back at him.

"You are one to talk of such things, Lord Tully, given your daughter's crime and your son's dalliances with wenches and failures on the field of battle." Wyman reminded Hoster aloud of the humiliations suffered by House Tully. "Your son had died in a Trial by Combat, same one your daughter had invoked on her trial, and won. Like it or not, but the Gods have made their choice, so I suggest you make peace with it."

"A fucking sham of a Trial, that mongrel goaded my son into it, knowing full well that…" Hoster tried to speak up, but then Laenor decided to interrupted him.

"If that was a sham of a Trial, than what would you call the trial of your daughter, Lord Hoster?" Laenor asked him, with Hoster glaring at the man, while Arryn too gave wary eye to the future Lord of the Tides, as he continued. "Boros Blount was arguably the very worst Kingsguard to have ever been inducted into the order, while Lyn Corbray is arguably the best swordsman of the Vale, with a Valyrian Steel sword to add to it, and yet the results were accepted by all, and now the situation is much the same here. The only fool there was your son, for having accepted the challenge."

"Careful, Velaryon, or else I'll also have your son's head for this." Hoster hissed from fury, while Laenor laid his hand on his blade, his looks saying that he will not stand by.

"Enough, all of you! By the Gods, there has been enough blood shed today. Calm yourselves!" Jon Arryn finally spoke up.

"Not enough blood is shed, for until the blood of that bastard is spilt, I'll not rest!" Hoster did not relent. "You are my son-in-law, Lord Arryn, and yet you wish me to calm down?! That brat had shamed and humiliated you as well, yet you wish me to calm down?! Where are your damned balls, Jon?!"

"Hoster, for fuck's sakes, shut the fuck up and calm yourself!" Brynden Tully has had enough and shouted at his brother. "Sit down and fucking shut up for a moment. Aye, Edmure is dead, and you hollering your throat out will not bring him back, nor will starting a fucking war, especially with the father of your now de-facto heir." Blackfish seemed to have managed to get his brother to calm down, and this seemed to have resolved the tensions a little.

"My thanks, Ser Brynden." Eddard spoke up.

"I don't need your thanks, Lord Stark. Your son killed my nephew right before my eyes. Trial or not, this we cannot forgive, and even you must understand it." Brynden made it clear what his position was, before he turned to Laenor. "And I'm hoping that you did not know that he meant to do so, Ser Laenor."

"No, I did not, nor did I expect him to do anything of such kind." Laenor stated with a sigh. "However, I'm certain that you know the reasoning behind this act, Ser Brynden."

"Aye, I know. Dead brother or not, your ward just snuffed out the future of my House." Brynden reminded him. "He's lucky, or rather clever enough, to have invoked that damned Trial by Combat, or else I would already have his head."

"Yes, he has invoked it." Eddard reminded all of it again. "And I will not give him to you just to see him slaughtered. Even if Edmure's dead, let us not forget that your son has openly mocked and insulted him, in capacity that more than justified a grudge. That, and there is also the fact that he did so before all my Lords and Ladies, not to mention great many of your lands too. I am not pleased with his actions myself, but he had justification to act as he did, against Edmure, and even more so against you, Jon." Ned turned with a glare towards Jon Arryn, who seemed looked quite betrayed when he heard it.

"Ned, do not tell me that you agree with him." Jon said with a defeated tone.

"Agree? Jon, you heard what those bastards did, and yet you wished to treat them as if they had only done a minor crime. Not only that, but you know the law better than I do, and you know that it was not your place or right to demand them be released, given that it was the North that had suffered from them, not the Vale." Eddard Stark reminded Jon Arryn. "And let's not forget the fact, that the Three Sisters are sworn to you, and now, those same Sistermen have pillaged and ransacked villages and a castle under my protection. How are you going to answer to that?" Ned demanded, with Jon looking like he really did not wish to be here, before letting out a defeated sigh.

"May I be allowed some privacy with Lord Stark?" Jon asked, with Ned deciding to indulge him.

"Lord Wyman, may we use your balcony?" Eddard asked, and Wyman agreed by nodding, and so the two men stepped outside and away from others to hear them.

"Ned, I… Let me tell you, that I agree with you. What those five did… It was absolutely unforgivable, and if I were in your place, I would've demanded their heads too." Jon Arryn told him. "However, my boy, the situation is not as simple as it may appear to you at a first glance, and you need to understand, that what your son had done… He all but ended our alliance, the one we made to see Robert crowned." Jon reminded Ned, with Lord Stark frowning at a memory of it.

"All I ever wanted was to see my father and brother avenged, and my sister returned. I was not the one who wished Robert to wear the crown, nor did he think of it, of that I am certain." Ned said with narrowed eyes. "You were the one who wished him proclaim his rights and take the Throne, not me, and after he took the capitol, you hurried to marry him off to Cersei Lannister, before my sister was discovered alive or dead."

"I did it for the good of us all." Jon defended himself.

"And what good did that alliance do for me, for my family?" Ned asked of him. "How much good did the North get out of it all, from Riverlands and Hoster Tully? I will tell you how much good did it bring us: none. The North still is shunned and looked down upon by all, either forgotten or thought as a wasteland by everyone south of the Neck, including by Tully, who thought that they may threaten my blood." Ned's anger at all this was clear as day.

"Ned, Catelyn has been absolved…" Jon tried to remind him, but was interrupted.

"Aye, same as Jayce was absolved today." Ned countered. "Even in the North all know that the trial was but a mummer's show and all know to whom Lyn Corbray holds his allegiances." Ned's narrowed eyes were enough of an indicator for Jon to understand, that his former ward no longer saw the elder man as his friend and mentor.

"You know that I've had no choice. Hoster and I are bound through my marriage to his daughter, same as you are with Catelyn, despite your refusal to admit it so now." Jon sighed tiredly. "Ned, even if Catelyn had a hand in the death of that boy, she has been absolved, and you know better than anyone that she would never hurt your children."

"More like her children, at least while they agree with her." Ned noted with anger. "But do not make yourself a fool before me, Jon. You know as well as I do that Catelyn would never repent for her act, nor will she accept Jayce as my son."

"Aye, and after today, she is more than justified in her fury towards him." Jon stated. "Ned, you and I once have both agreed, that having Jayce legitimized would make way for a great deal of possible problems, and now… Now that same boy is bringing ruin to us all, and to Robert as well with his actions. You know as well as I do that Hoster will never forgive him and will want his head, and if you continue to stand so adamantly for him, there will be war. A war, in which I will be forced to help Hoster, and do you honestly wish for bloodshed? Do you honestly wish to destroy Robert's reign and future, just to protect your bastard?"

"What does this has to do with Robert and his reign?" Ned asked of him. "Do not tell me that you think that Jayce purposefully sabotaged him too."

"Mayhaps not on purpose, but his act today certainly did just that." Jon let out a tired sigh. "Ned, Robert may wear the crown now, but his reign and power… I fear it is not as secure as you might think. The Realm may be at peace and have sworn itself to him, but his reign far more vulnerable than Aerys' was. Great many lords and ladies pay but lip service, and are more than eager to see him deposed, with Tyrells and Martells looking for any possibility of it." Jon stated to Ned. "Not only that, but the roads and seas around Westeros are again plagued with pirates and outlaws, and we are barely able to deal with them fully. What happened with Sistermen… It should've been the Royal fleet defending the North, not Velaryons, but…"

"But what, Jon?" Ned asked of him.

"The Royal Navy is in no condition to conduct patrols, much less wage war. 8 out of 10 of our ships are out of commission and shape for seafaring activities, and we have not the men to man them all, or the coin to repair or order new ships and train new men." Jon stated to Ned, who looked at him with confusion. "Ned, the Crown has no coin for it, for it is deeply in debts. Over a million and a half golden dragons at this point." Jon admitted aloud, with Ned widening his eyes after hearing it.

"How in Gods' name did this happen? Aerys had left the treasury flowing with gold, Robert couldn't have simply let it all go away." Ned stated with incredulity.

"You would be surprised at the expertise Robert has in spending coin. It rivals that of his martial prowess, and in this regard, I fear I have no reign over him." Jon admitted with a defeated tone. "More than a half of that coin is owed to Tywin Lannister, the rest to the Iron Bank, the Faith and others. With such a debt that continues to pile up, Robert's reign is more than ever is dependent on the loyal friend and allies, and your son has all but ensured that he has none left today, but killing Edmure Tully, and by publically humiliating me like he did, before my very own Lords." Jon stated with anger.

"He would not have had to, if only you had kept control over your own Lords and vassals, Jon." Ned reminded him.

"Ned, you know as well as I do that the Three Sisters pay but lip service to me and my House. I have more than enough of my own problems to deal with than to constantly watch what those smugglers do." Jon stated in a dismissive tone, but realized what a mistake he just said. "I am sorry, it…"

"No, you spoke the truth." Ned said without an ounce of warmth in his tone. "Their affairs have always been no matter to you, Jon, so why should they consider your opinion or power over them, since you do not care about them? And even if they do decide to break peace, they'll just invoke your name, and you will act as Lord of the Eyrie acts in such cases: ransoms, apologies, forgiveness and forgotten."

"I would've seen them punished in accordance with their crimes, I assure you, Ned." Jon stated to him. "I would've done what needed to be done, had your son not made a mockery of me before my vassals. It is bad enough that many of them are displeased with my absence from the Eyrie and the Vale, but now they will also think me weak and unable to command order and respect. I do not need to tell you how important it is for a Lord Paramount to command respect from his subjects."

"Aye, hence why I will never accept Catelyn back. It was one thing that she disrespected many of my bannermen, but what she did with Jon was unforgivable, and she will never be accepted in the North." Ned stated to him. "And after Pyke, few of my bannermen will ever again consider Hoster to be a valued ally or a friend, and given how the only thing they got from my alliance with him was Catelyn, they do not look favorably towards this entire affair of yours. As far as I and my lords are concerned, this alliance is only to the benefit of Hoster, and not the North."

"Maybe so, but it is also to the benefit of the Realm, Robert and Westeros as a whole, or would you prefer chaos and anarchy to peace and stability?" Jon asked of Ned. "Because your son seems to prefer chaos and war to peace… Ned, my boy, I can understand your need to protect him, but you must also understand, that as long as Jayce remains, our alliance will be destroyed and Robert will always be in danger of being usurped or killed again. Even now, many of the Targaryen loyalists look to the East, where Viserys Targaryen is now."

"The Targaryens are gone for good, dying away from Westeros. They are no threat to Robert." Ned stated.

"I wish I could agree with you on that, but it seems that the Dragons still have some fire left in them. A year or so ago, Viserys has managed to gain allegiance of a company of sellswords, and since then has been on a warpath throughout Essos, fighting for the highest bidder and winning. He already has over two thousand men under his command, and his numbers keep rising more and more, with disgraced knights, loyalists of his father and other miscreants finding their way to him. I am also told that his is not a rag tag band of robbers and rapists, but an organized and disciplined force, akin to the Golden Company in regards to order, though not yet equal to them in prowess." Jon revealed to Ned. "Right now, he may be no immediate threat to us, but Aerys' last son is not a mad weakling we hoped he would be, but a bloodthirsty wyrm that clearly wishes to take back The Iron Throne. And when he does decide to do so, how many will support him over Robert, when he has no allies left and nothing in his coffers to show for it? Tyrells and Martells will be the first to support Viserys, but there will be others as well, many in the Vale, Stormlands and Riverlands, not to mention Velaryons… Ned, we will lose that war before it even begins, and do you think Viserys will most likely allow you to bend the knee? Do you think he will allow you to take the black or let Robb rule? He has already taken to burning those that break their word to him that I can assure you of." Ned listened to Jon and considered his words, and understood that there was some wisdom to his words.

"I will not take Catelyn back, and I will not allow Hoster to take Jayce's head, nor will you have it." Ned stated to Jon. "I will stand for Robert, but not at the cost of Jayce's life."

"Very well, but you must understand that Hoster will not settle on letting Jayce go unscathed. His position is perilous enough as it is, and what few loyalists he has will desert him if he relents from this without any form of win." Jon stated to Ned. "With Edmure dead, your Brandon now is his heir, and while Hoster may accept it, he will demand to have him be made Tully and to be raised as one with Catelyn…"

"I will consider it." Ned told him with a heavy sigh.

"He will also need assurances that his blood will inherit Winterfell, and that none will question Robb's rights to it." Jon stated to Ned, who turned his eyes towards his. "You and I both know that as long as Jayce is near, Robb's claim will be questioned and weak one, against Jayce's, despite him being oldest. You have to make it clear that nothing will threaten Robb's claim." Ned understood what Jon meant.

"You demand that I disinherit Jayce." Ned stated. "Do you realize what my Lords will think of it, especially after what he did for the North?"

"Which is why you must make the boy do it himself." Jon told him, with Ned looking at him with shock. "Ned, this is for the good…"

"Do not tell me for who's good it is." Ned hissed at him, before turning his back to him, leaving Jon without any consistent answer, with Jon Arryn letting out a tired sigh, understanding that this will be a long day yet.

---

Sometime later.

Though House Manderly was one of the few House of the North that follow the Faith of the Seven, they still had a Godswood, and it was quite a beautiful one at that, though not up to in the scale of Winterfell's one. It was a mostly closed off garden with flowers, trees and a large weirwood heart tree at its center, before which currently Jayce and Baelon stood, admiring the beauty, while Manderly guards provided security for them, though from a distance. It was thanks to Lord Stark that right after the Trial the situation didn't immediately deteriorate to the point of swords being drawn and blood spilt, as he immediately set out to resolve the situation with Jon Arryn and others.

And as for Jayce, though he was innocent and clear of any crime, he realized the severity and magnitude of his actions here today, yet despite knowing it all, he did not feel either shame or fear over what had happened, which confounded Baelon. Rather, his friend was quite at peace with all that had happened, and given all that had transpired, this was not what Baelon would've expected. He knew well enough that his friend never forgave or forgotten what was done to his brother, and that revenge was always something he wished, but he also knew that Jayce was smart enough to understand that he couldn't just blindly pursue it. Yet today… Today he did more than that, and acted more in the way Baelon would've expected someone like Red Viper of Dorne to act, but not Jayce…

"Tell me, why did you do it?" Baelon asked Jayce, as they looked at the heart tree. "I know what they say about the heart tree and Godswoods. I honestly do not know if you believe in gods or not, Jayce, but I ask you to be true with me. Why did you kill Edmure?" Baelon asked of him, with Jayce closing his eyes for a moment, before opening them up again and turning to Baelon.

"Tell me, Baelon, do you love your family?" Jayce asked of him.

"With all my heart." Baelon answered immediately without hesitation and with confidence

"Aye, with all your heart, same as it was for me with Jon. You know, before I met you all, all I had is Jon." Jayce admitted openly. "I never had much love for other Starks, not like Jon. He was always closer to all of them, despite... Despite whom he was supposed to be. But me? No, I could never connect much to them, not like Jon, but he was all I had for a family. Now imagine that your entire family was taken from you by the one person who hated your guts since the day you were born, and she got away from it without as much as slap on the wrist. Do you know what you would want the most?"

"Kill her?" Baelon asked of Jayce, who chuckled at that.

"I thought the same at first, but when I arrived here today and saw her with her brother, seemingly invincible and untouchable for me, smirking and insulting me… I remembered Jon, and I snapped." Jayce told Baelon. "I wanted to make that bitch understand what she did to me, at least a little bit, and so I took one thing that Tully value over all others, something that she's been preaching to loving with all her heart- family. And I did just that, and I will not deny- it felt good." Jayce confessed.

"Mayhaps, but you realize, that just to achieve your revenge, you've all but signed your death penalty?" Baelon asked of him. "You killed an heir and only son of Lord Paramount, and a man who happens to be the father-in-law to Lord of the Hand, whom, need I remind you, you also happened to have publically shamed and humiliated mere moments before. I understand you were wroth with all that had happened to the North and those people, but why did you also decide to make an enemy of him?"

"Because the North doesn't need such friends like him and Hoster in the South." Jayce stated with the sigh, as he closed the eyes and opened them again. "And to end finally end their grip over Starks."

"What are you talking about?" Baelon didn't understand him, before a thought came to his mind. "Did you see past about them?" Baelon asked, with Jayce nodding, before motioning that they were not alone.

"Of all the things I had expected to come out of this sorry affair, blood of Edmure Tully was the last one on my mind, but not in my wishes." Lord Tytos Blackwood made his presence known, as he and his eldest son Brynden walked to the two of them. "You certainly know how to keep things entertaining, young Sea Wolf."

"Lord Blackwood, Ser Brynden." Jayce nodded to them, with both doing the same. "I suppose you are here on behalf of Lord Tully to demand my head as recompense for the death of his beloved son?" Jayce asked in a gracious way, though with a bit of humor added, with Brynden chuckling to it.

"We might have, if we were Brakens, that is. But we are Blackwoods, so right at this very moment you've become a friend to us, or rather closer friend than before." Brynden told him with a smile.

"To be entirely candid, that was the last thing I hoped to make after my Trial." Jayce admitted, before turning to Tytos. "Mayhaps you could elaborate, milord?"

"With pleasure. I'm sure you know that after the Rebellion, Hoster's reputation and relations have gone to shit, and same happened within the Riverlands as well. Hoster had neither authority nor prestige over anyone of us, so he decided to start looking for those who could help him secure his House's place." Tytos began explaining. "His searches led him to one disreputable fellow named Jonos Bracken, who happened to have a whole gaggle of daughters and a seething desire to get one over us."

"Ah, so I've also made a widow today." Jayce noted with humor.

"Not a widow, since Edmure was only engaged to Bethany Bracken, but I'm sure you can imagine that for us Blackwoods, such a union is among the last things we want to happen." Tytos told Jayce.

"Whenever is at good thing for Brakens to have something that Blackwoods don't?" Jayce asked with humor, to which Tytos nodded. "But I doubt you were hoping that Edmure may meet me by accident. How did you counter that?"

"With a few alliances of our own, ones made through marriages and not engagements." Brynden informed Jayce. "I'm now a married man, with Lady Mira Mallister as my wife, while my little brother Lucas got himself Lady Liane Vance, from Wayfarer Rest. Shame we've only got our little Bethany for a daughter, but she's all the more important prize, some may say."

"Quite a coalition you've got going for you, Lord Tytos." Jayce said with an impressed tone. "Last I hear, all three of your House could muster nigh one and a half times forces than Tully could each. I wouldn't be surprised if Lord Tully was thought it a bad idea to get his son engaged to a Bracken."

"Well, whatever he thought, that engagement is as dead as Edmure now, and Jonos is sure boiling up inside, so overall, you've made us coming here more than worth our time." Tytos assured Jayce. "Hoster may be raging and frothing about calling banners and men, but as it stands, he will get not much support from anyone. Mayhaps Pipers may support him, but others I doubt, though I am not so certain about the Vale." Tytos sighed, with Jayce understanding what he meant.

"What those fuckers did to your people was abhorrent, and House Blackwood supports what you said in the hall about Lord Arryn." Brynden added. "Hand of the King or not, what he said and how he acted was out of place, and I'm surprised he actually even thought that some ransom could cut it. I thought that Lords of the Vale had a tighter grip over their vassals than that."

"Aye, usually they do, if history is to be believed, but Jon Arryn hasn't been Lord of the Vale, or in the Vale, for quite some time." Jayce remarked. "He is Hand of the King now, so his time for his more direct duties is quite limited."

"Mayhaps it is so, but you did still manage to piss him off as well." Tytos remarked, before he and Brynden turned to leave. "Whatever happens next, Jayce, I bid you good luck."

"I wish you the same and marital happiness to you, Brynden." Jayce wished the two, and they've left them alone, before a new group came into the Godswood.

"Jayce!" Arya Stark ran to Jayce and immediately hugged him, while Robb and Sansa, along with Theon Greyjoy trailed behind.

"Ouch, easier on the sprints, lass." Jayce said with a smile. "Would you look at that? I'm either seeing double, or did you get twice as big as I last remember you?" To this Arya laughed, while Sansa scoffed openly.

"Arya, get away from him. He is a kinslayer, a murderer and a traitor." Sansa stated, with Jayce blinking at that.

"No, they fought in Trial by Combat, so that doesn't count." Arya defiantly stated.

"Aye, she's right. Also, don't get things confused, Sansa, but I'm about as related to Tully as a wolf related to an actual trout, that is in no way." Jayce reminded her. "Also, about that bit of a traitor, where did that one come from, exactly? Or should I really ask?"

"Do you really need to ask, after what you did?" Robb asked him with a glare in his eye. "You've made a mockery of sacred Trial by Combat, publically shamed Hand of the King, and murdered our kin. Only a traitor would act in such a way, and there is only one punishment for traitors."

"Ah, Lady Stark, what a pleasure to meet you again. You seem to have lost quite a bit of weight and height since we last saw each other." Jayce said with a mocking tone, before making a bit of mummery face and continuing. "Oh, Robb! My mistake, forgive me. I must say, you and your mother have quite a way with words, completely indistinguishable and word in word the same as she would say it all." Robb scoffed at it, while Theon moved closer to the heir of Winterfell.

"Don't listen to him, Robb. All he can do now is bark and howl, but he's got no bite to him." Theon told him, with Jayce raising an eyebrow to this.

"Remind me, who are you again? I don't remember any Starks who looked like some bed boy from King's Landing's whorehouse." Jayce noted, enjoying the look of anger coming to Greyjoy.

"I am Theon Greyjoy, heir of Balon Greyjoy and future Lord of Pyke." Theon stated. "We've already met, but what one expect of a bastard, who can't even remember where his place is." Theon smirked victoriously, while Jayce simply scoffed.

"Ah yes, the Greyjoy prisoner! Now I remember we did meet when your father handed you over to Lord Stark like a sack of potato and promised not to rebel again." Jayce replied, before he turned to Robb. "Interesting company you keep, Robb. Very unusual for the Heir of Winterfell."

"Theon is true and loyal friend, and more of a brother to me than you ever was." Robb stated with fire, with Jayce honestly surprised at such a reaction. "You bring nothing but trouble upon us. Mother was right when she said that you are devious and conceited, and today you've proven her right."

"Ah yes, and she is an absolute angel in the flesh." Jayce mocked him, before his face turned completely grim. "Tell me, if I am so demonic and evil, than what about her? After all, she did kill our brother, didn't she?"

"Jon died of pox, and mother protected us from getting infected." Sansa stated to him.

"She was absolved of her crimes in a Trail by Combat." Robb reminded Jayce.

"Same way as I was just hours ago." Jayce remarked, with Robb narrowing his eyes at him.

"You made a mockery of it, you bastard." Robb said with anger.

"Mayhaps, but the same thing can be said about your mother's trial. Tell me, did ever meet Sir Boros Blount? Well, I did, and let me tell you: the sole reason he was in the Kingsguard was because they needed to plug the empty spot, and he was the closest thing near them." Jayce told Robb. "I've even sparred against him when I was on Pyke, and let me tell you, that even your new squid brother here could run circles around them, and the Ironborn make for some of the lousiest fighters I've encountered." Theon clearly didn't take it well.

"Care to say that again?" Theon suddenly drew out a steel sword, stepping closer to Jayce, who wasn't all that impressed.

"Theon, you fool, put that thing down!" Arya shouted at him.

"Pipe down, you horsefaced bitch." Theon said sharply, with Jayce not taking it well, as he handed Arya to Baelon.

"Baelon, be a brother and look after her." Jayce asked of him, as he turned to face Theon. "You know, I would've let those insults go, but you just did one single dumbest thing you could."

"Oh, and what is that?" Theon asked, as he prepared to swing his steal at Jayce.

"You insulted my sister, and for that, you'll pay." And with this said, Jayce drew out his Nightfall, with the others giving them some distance.

"Ha, like you stand a chance against a pureblooded noble and a Greyjoy at that!" Theon mocked, as he swung his sword at Jayce, who parried it effortlessly.

"Edmure Tully was a pureblooded noble, as were your uncles, and where are they now?" Jayce asked, and then swung his sword at Theon's, driving it away, and then he with ease slashed at Theon's hand.

"ARGH!" Theon cried out, as Jayce's Nightfall cut off half of Theon's palm with all four fingers on it, blood seeping out of the stump, as his sword fell out of his hand, or what remained of it, as Sansa cried out from shock.

"What in Seven Hells is going on in here?!" Lord Stark's booming voice immediately drew attention of all, as he appeared with his guards and Ser Arthur Dayne, already prepared to draw out Dawn.

"Father, Jayce, he tried to kill Theon!" Robb pointed at Jayce, with simply wiped out blood off his sword, before sheathing it with a neutral face. "Theon was defending our honor, and Jayce…"

"Lies! Theon drew steel first and tried to attack Jayce!" Arya spoke up, glaring at Theon and Robb. "Theon called me a horsefaced bitch, and Jayce defended my honor, and Robb did nothing! He only insulted Jayce with Sansa and this squid!"

"Lord Stark, I can confirm the words of your daughter. Jayce drew his steel only after Theon insulted your daughter." Baelon spoke up, with Ned looking him in the eyes. "Insulting daughter of Lord Paramount in such open manner warrants cutting out a person's tongue." Baelon recalled the punishment, with Theon looking paler than he did a moment ago.

"Take him to the maester, and leave me with Jayce alone." Eddard commanded, and all did just that, with Ser Arthur leaving after a nod from Jayce, finally giving the two needed privacy. "Jayce… Not like this I had wished for us to meet again."

"Believe me, Lord Stark, despite how eventful it all was, I too wish it all went in a more mundane and boring manner." Jayce admitted, before letting out sigh. "So, what did you and Lord Arryn decide?"

"Decide what?" Ned asked of Jayce, slightly confused.

"Decided about me, naturally. I'm not so stupid as to not realize that my actions won't have consequences." Jayce told Eddard. "Lord Hoster demanded my head, didn't he?"

"He did, and Jon and I can't convince him otherwise. You killed his son, Jayce, and a sole heir of House Tully. This… This isn't something that even I can protect you from. What in the world were you thinking?!" Ned demanded to know.

"Thinking? All I was thinking at that was how to make Lady Catelyn pay, and when I saw my chance, I took it." Jayce admitted without any reservation or shame. "And as for your noble and precious Lord Jon Arryn, do not tell me that if you were in place, you would've allowed him to just take those bastards with him and then pay off their lives."

"No, I would not." Eddard admitted. "But what you did today, Jayce… You have no idea what you've caused."

"I'd beg to differ." Jayce replied. "I've publically criticized and shamed Hand of the King, exposing his weakness as a ruler and Lord for allowed his vassals to openly raid and pillage a neighboring Kingdom, one with which he is supposed be enjoying close warm relations. I have killed an heir of Riverlands' Lord, effectively ending House Tully and ensuing that the closest member to them through female line takes place that is your second son Brandon. And most importantly, I've achieved at least some measure of a justice against Catelyn Tully, when it was denied me, and I will not apologize for any of it."

"You've also ensured that our Kingdoms are on the brink of war, one that could rip Seven Kingdoms apart." Eddard commented, with Jayce simply chuckling at it. "Do you honestly find this funny?"

"No, I do not." Jayce said with a heavy sigh. "You wish us to speak seriously, uncle? Well, let us be serious and honest." Jayce immediately saw how eyes of Lord Stark widened from those words.

"What… How?" Eddard asked of him, as he already suspected that Jayce may already be aware of everything.

"Laenor told me everything soon to be two years ago, after an assassination attempt was made on me while we were in Braavos. The catspaw also said: "Lady Stark sends her regards." Jayce recounted events from his past. "And before you say anything about how you tried to protect me, or how all I knew about Rhaegar and Lyanna were a lie, let me tell you, that at this moment I couldn't care less about them or circumstances of their affair. You can also breathe easy, uncle, for I'm in no mood for trying to take the Iron Throne or anything of that sort. Hell, I'm not even interested in Winterfell, despite what Lady Catelyn and Robb may think."

"Jayce…" Eddard looked at his nephew with surprise and shock. "I… All I ever wanted was to protect you, you and Jon. Your mother, she asked me to do it."

"Aye, I know." Jayce said with a heavy sigh. "And I'm sorry for being such a headache for you, I really am." Jayce said with a heavy sigh, to which Eddard Stark smiled a little and chuckled.

"Of the two, you were always the most like Lyanna: brash, headstrong and with a sharp cheek, yet good heart and sense of right and wrong, never able to let wrong thing go unpunished… Jon had her looks, but you have her heart." Ned said with a sad smile. "Despite all you've done, she would've been very much proud of you, for all you've accomplished."

"Mayhaps, but now… It doesn't really change much, does it?" Jayce asked him rhetorically, as he offered his father a seat at a nearby bench, which he accepted, siting near him. "So, what did Jon Arryn tell you? I'm guessing the best option for all parties considered would be for me to lose my head, or at least for these two."

"I'll not give your head to them." Eddard assured him with steel. "Despite what you did to Edmure, you did in a Trial, and it was acknowledged and witnessed."

"Aye, and killing me now would make for a new bloodbath, which is not something the North needs at this very moment." Jayce said. "Then the next best thing is the Wall, but you know my opinion of it."

"It is an honorable calling, and for many generations the Starks went there to serve a higher calling." Eddard repeated what he told Jayce many years ago.

"Aye, but not all men seek to serve a higher calling, and for all its myth and legend, it is a prison, where men of uncomfortable qualities are sent to no longer pose any threat." Jayce told his uncle. "Jon might've thought it would be a right thing to do, to go to the Wall and serve alongside uncle Benjen, but I'm not Jon. Which leaves us with the last option- disinheritance and exile…" Jayce let out another sigh.

"Jon has hinted at it, aye, but if I were to do it, the Lords of the North would rise in a riot over it being unjust, and they would be right." Eddard told his nephew. "But he did not say a word about exile, only that while you are near, Robb's claim will be questioned."

"Then this is what he was hinting at, uncle. I've already had a feeling that this might be the case, and after seeing Robb just now… He'll never hold the North the way he is now. He calls a Greyjoy his brother, and allowed his sister to be insulted like that. The North will not accept a lord like that, and despite what he and his mother may think, I do not wish to take Winterfell and the North for my own." Jayce told Ned. "As long as I am around, Robb's claim will be questioned, aye, but if he is to be Lord of Winterfell, he needs to finally shape up for it and start forging the right sort of reputation and rapport with the Lords of the North. He'll not do so at Winterfell, no."

"I've already considered having him fostered, though I can't decide where to send him. Jon Arryn and Yohn Royce offered to foster him, but it will send the wrong message to others." Eddard said, with Jayce agreeing with him. "But I have to ask, why would you care about him, for what just told you?" Ned asked of Jayce, making it clear how his children spoke of Jayce.

"Honestly? I don't really care about Robb. A sacrilegious thing to say for a Stark, but… It is true, for I hold little familial love for him, Sansa or Brandon, while Arya is closer than all of them to me. Yet, compared to what I've found with Velaryons and Ashara, they are a little more than distant acquaintances, I fear." Jayce revealed to Ned, who couldn't fault Jayce for thinking in such a manner. "But you are different, uncle. You did all in your capacity to protect me and Jon and though not in all you've succeeded, without you… There wouldn't be me or Jon to begin with, for I doubt Robert would ever accept me and Jon being alive, and I am even more certain that Jon Arryn and Hoster Tully would not hesitate to have our throats slit. For all that you did for us, the least I can do, I think, is help you and the North. And, despite all, this is still my home, and I do want the North to be strong, and for it to be strong, a strong Stark must hold Winterfell."

"I understand, Jayce, and I do not hold any ill against you." Ned assured him, as he patted his nephew on the back. "Who would you say would be a good choice to send Robb off to be fostered?" Ned decided to ask, suspecting that Jayce already has made some conclusions.

"House Umber seems like the best option, with Greatjon not likely to give any sort of indulgences to Robb, and it would definitely get him away from Greyjoy. Plus they deal with the Wildlings on the regular, so it will give Robb chance to distinguish himself, and to learn of some of the foremost duties of Lord of the North." Jayce said, with Ned agreeing with his nephew. "He'll also need a northern wife, and in here there are few choices. I'll avoid suggesting either of Lord Manderly's granddaughters, since…"

"Aye, I understand." Ned nodded to him. "Wyman is sooner to offer them to you, especially after how you rescued them, anyway."

"Tempting, but I'm in no hurry to settle down." Jayce chuckled, before a thought came to him. "Alys Karstark is not yet betrothed to anyone?"

"No." Eddard answered, understanding what his nephew meant. "House Karstark?"

"Arguably one of the strongest Houses of the North, behind only Boltons, Umbers and Manderly, and no doubt amongst the most loyal, and such loyalty needs to be maintained." Jayce stated, with Ned agreeing with him. "Lord Rickard has been wishing for such a match since he brought Alys to Winterfell the first time, and what better way to show all that Robb is of the North than with such a match."

"I'll consider it, but now I also have to think about Bran." Ned sighed. "Your act today now made him Heir of Riverrun, and I imagine both Hoster and Catelyn will demand I hand him over to them."

"Don't do it so readily. Better he be a Stark than a Tully." Jayce told him. "You are his father, so you have the right and duty to raise him right, so do it while you can. They want an Heir to Riverrun, then they'll have one, but not a Tully one, but a Stark one. And if they aren't gonna like it, then make it clear that either they agree, or they can forget about the North being their ally." Jayce told Eddard, surprising him.

"You wish me to demand terms from them?" Eddard asked, with Jayce nodding to him. "Jayce, this is…"

"Dishonorable and below an honest man's pride? This is Game of Thrones, uncle, and in here, the only rules are to play for the win, or to die." Jayce told him. "It may surprise you, but you've got quite an opportunity here, one that you need to exploit for the sake of the North, and you best use it, or else they will use the North, as they've done before with you."

"What do you mean?" Ned asked of Jayce, who closed his eyes with a sigh, before opening them up.

"Do you recall the tales of Old Nan, about the Greenseers, able to look into the past?" Ned nodded to it. "Well, Targaryens had something similar, called Dreamers, allowing them to look through dreams into the past, present and future. Laenor told me that Rhaegar was one such Dreamer, or at least the Prince himself believed to be one… But I do know that I am a Dreamer, uncle, and I know things that I should not have any knowledge of, from the past and the future. Remember Pyke? Well, before the battle, I did see it, only how it would've gone if nobody sounded that horn, and it went as horribly as one may expect."

"You… You are serious about it, aren't you?" Ned asked of him, with Jayce nodding. "Because of that dream you were at that entrance and sounded the horn. You foresaw the attack?"

"Aye, as I later foresaw an attempt on my life, and later on attacks on the villages when we were patrolling the Bite." Jayce told Ned. "But aside from future, I also see the past too. And several days before we set off for the patrol, and I saw another Dragon Dream, not of the future, but of the past…"

---

The folds of the tent opened, and in stepped Jon Arryn, finding Lord Hoster Tully already dining and with wine in his cup.

"Ah, milord Arryn. Forgive me, I've started without you, but please, be seated, my friend." Hoster offered the man a seat at his table, which he accepted, before he poured him wine, coming to him with a bit of wobble. "From my personal stock. Arbor Gold, been keeping it for just the right occasion."

"And what better occasion than our victory?" Jon asked and both men chuckled, as Lord Arryn sipped his wine. "Ah, a good one. You have an excellent choice in wines, milord. How is your leg, by the way?"

"Aye, stings a bit from that bolt wound, but nothing that I can't manage. The plate saved me from the worst of it, I'm told, so I'll soon be fine. I've always prided myself in it, as well as making the right alliances." Hoster added, as he was seated. "So, has it been confirmed for certain? Rhaegar…"

"Is as dead as they come, yes. Robert has done a good job crushing his chest with his hammer, and now the Targaryens are virtually leaderless and defeated. All that remains is to drive the nails into their coffin, and soon the Realm will have a new King." Jon told Hoster, before he handed to Hoster a letter he brought with him. "And who better to bring about the final end of Targaryens, than the man who could've saved them."

"So Lord Tywin has accepted to join our side. He sure picked the right moment." Hoster scoffed, as he read the letter and put it down. "What good is he for us now that Rhaegar is dead?"

"Patience, my friend. I've made sure that Tywin understood that for his unwillingness to back us up from the start, he may suffer quite a penalty" Jon informed Hoster. "However, should he provide us with the unquestionable proof of his commitment and loyalty to Robert and our cause, then Robert and I will be more than gracious and grateful to him, for his services."

"Is that so? And what proof would you say best represents commitment to Robert?" Hoster asked, with Jon Arryn sipping wine.

"Dead corpses of Elia Martell and her brats, along with the head of Aerys, presented to Robert upon his entry to the Throne Room." Jon Arryn stated to Hoster. "Let the Lion dirty his hands for us. This will save us some trouble with the Martells later on, and will save Robert from a reputation of a child murder. And in exchange for this deed, Tywin will get what he has always desired- a royal match between Robert and his daughter Cersei."

"How can he possibly resist it?" Hoster smiled. "He'll get both his royal match and his son back."

"Not quite, for I made no promises in regards to Jaime, but doubtless Tywin will understand things in his own way. Best we keep his favorite cub near us, in case he decides to have not so loyal thoughts." Jon said, with Hoster agreeing. "Tywin's host should arrive to King's Landing just before Ned and our van. If all goes well, by the time Ned arrives, the Lannisters will hold the city and the Red Keep."

"Hm, Tywin and his forces are not known for their merciful and honorable behavior, they are more likely to sack the city, and coupled with what you wished of the Lion to do, I fear my good-son will not quite agree with such a course of action." Hoster remarked. "He was none too pleased when Robert proclaimed his rights to the Throne and his intent to take it for himself, and now this… This may drive our Warden of the North away."

"Ned needs not know of our agreements, just like Robert, and even if he doesn't agree with the results, it will be of no consequence. The North and he have done his part, and done it perfectly, and the Realm that we will build will have no need of them, aside from being our shield." Jon stated to Hoster, as they sipped wine. "Ned may disagree at first, but he'll come around to my views, he always has done so and will do it again. He'll be happier to see Robert on the Throne than another Aerys."

"But what of his sister?" Hoster reminded Jon. "Surely you do not mean to have her wed to Robert, and if the whore is with Rhaegar's child…"

"Even if she is heavy with the child or gave birth to it, it matters little. One way or the other, Lyanna Stark will join her father and brother in death, and will never make her way to Robert." Jon stated with confidence. "As much as I may be grateful to this whore for giving us the war we needed, the last thing we need is a Stark beside Robert, especially one we can't control. Better that she serve us as a martyr, a symbol of Rhaegar's madness and cruelty, like her father and brother did."

"I most certainly agree with you, milord. I must also thank you, for providing me the chance to be rid of an unwanted Brandon in favor of more malleable Ned." Hoster told him with a smile. "Truth be told, when the letter from that whore of her marriage to Rhaegar came to Riverrun, I could not understand what to do with it, but you, Jon, have made the most excellent choice. The hot-blooded buffoon never even suspected a thing and was all too eager to go and demand Rhaegar's blood. Though I am surprised as to how did you manage to ensure that the old fool Rickard never learned of his daughter's true fate?"

"Rickard Stark placed too much faith into his maester, never realizing that he may be serving not the interests of his House, but of others. All it took to sway him was a promise of his future elevation, and he was made into a loyal subject of mine." Jon Arryn stated, as he smiled and sipped the wine. "And so we were rid of a wise old wolf and his uncontrollable pup, and instead put our domesticated and trained dog in their place, with House Tully's blood soon to flow in Starks, and through them, into all of the North, as well as our culture and ways. I hope your daughter knows what is to be expected of her?"

"You have nothing to worry about, milord. Catelyn knows her duty and what to teach her children, and she will raise them as proper Lords and Ladies, nothing like Brandon or Lyanna. If the Seven smile upon us, then Catelyn's son or daughter shall be married to Lord or Lady of the Vale." Hoster said with a chuckle. "And our Houses and futures will be as prosperous as never before. To the future, Lord Arryn."

"To the future, Lord Tully." Jon told him, and they drank from their cups.

---

What Ned Stark just heard had completely shattered everything that he had believed in before, his entire view of the world and things of it was completely destroyed, as he rose up to come to terms with what his nephew revealed to him. The entire Rebellion, his brother and father's deaths, Lyanna and even his marriage to Catelyn- all of it were nothing more than a scheme orchestrated by Jon Arryn, all for the purpose of advancing his position. Of all the people, Ned Stark could've expected treachery of such kind from anyone, but from the man who raised him in the ideals of honor, duty and honesty… Lord of Winterfell struggled to fully grasp and comprehend everything that his nephew just said and turned to him with disbelief clear in his eyes and on his face.

"This… This cannot be true." Ned told him with a near whisper. "I-I know Jon, he… He would never dare to do such a thing! He raised his banners after Aerys demanded my and Robert's heads, he fought for us in the Rebellion and he…"

"He became the Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon, the man who had no desire for the throne himself, and took it only because Jon Arryn told him, didn't he?" Jayce asked of Ned, who stopped when he heard Jayce speak. "You told me once during the Siege of Pyke, that Robert wished only to live for battle and war, not for Crown and the Throne. If the King doesn't rule, then who does so in his absence?" Jayce asked of Ned, with Lord Stark already knowing the answer to that.

"The Hand… But, to plot this, for all this time…" Ned couldn't comprehend it all still. "Lyanna… She sent out letters to us?"

"To you, Brandon and grandfather, aye, it would seem. She never told you?" Jayce asked of Ned.

"No, she was on her deathbed when I found her, having just delivered you and Jon. She… All she said that she was sorry, and asked me to protect you both." Ned told Jayce. "Hoster and Jon… They lured my brother and father to Aerys." Ned said, with Jayce nodding.

"Aye, it would seem this to be the case." Jayce said, as he himself stood up. "And instead of a headstrong and charismatic Brandon and wise and experienced Rickard Starks, they've put you in their place, the one Stark whom they knew best, and who would, forgive my words, be their perfect servant. Laenor told me that though Aerys was mad, there was nothing that could've caused a rebellion of such scale beforehand, and Jon Arryn needed a war to get what he wanted. I wouldn't even put it past him if also wished to exact revenge upon the Targaryens for what had happened to his House."

"What do you mean?" Ned asked of Jayce.

"The Conquest, recall how the Vale fell to the Targaryens?" Jayce reminded Ned. "No grand battles, no burned castles, just a little boy who in exchange for flying on Vhagar, handed Visenya Targaryen his crown, and so the Vale and Arryns were made vassals. I doubt that such a humiliation is something as prestigious and ancient House as Arryn may forgive or forget. Or maybe Jon Arryn just saw a perfect opportunity to make himself Hand of the King and took it, who knows?"

"But you can't be sure that what you saw was the truth!" Ned shouted at him, hoping that Jayce was wrong. "I-I'm sorry, Jayce, I…"

"I know. I myself did not believe in these visions myself, but… But experience taught me otherwise." Jayce told him. "We can easily confirm if I'm telling the truth or not, and you can help us with it."

"How?" Ned asked of Jayce.

"During the battle or before it, did Lord Hoster suffer a wound from crossbow bolt into his left leg?" Jayce asked of Ned, with him widening his eyes immediately. "The bolt got through the plate, but didn't do too much damage and he was able to recover from it and walk soon enough, didn't he?"

"A-aye, in battle of the Trident he suffered a wound like that." Ned said with shock, realizing that Jayce could be saying the truth. "But you could've heard of it from someone…"

"Mayhaps, then how about this: Jon Arryn bore with him during Rebellion a longsword with a pummel made in a shape of a falcon head, two sapphires for eyes in it and crossguard in form of wings." Jayce recalled the blade, with Ned again widening his eyes after hearing this. "I saw clear as day that Lord Arryn never bore such a blade after, I assure you, not in Rebellion or anywhere else, and you know better than anyone that I've had plenty of time and opportunity to see him in armor and with arms."

"No, he never did after the Rebellion bear that blade." Ned said, as he let out a defeated sigh. "So, all this… It is true, then?"

"I fear it is." Jayce told him. "It shocked me, aye, but I thought little of it while on patrol, but today… It would seem that either fate or Gods decided to share the truth with me, and so…"

"And so you took action. That is why you decided to shame and humiliate Jon, and kill Edmure." Ned said.

"Edmure was revenge to your wife, pure and simple. I did not plan for it, only to humiliate Jon Arryn, ensure that whatever he planned here didn't come to fruition, for if it did… It would spell future disaster for the North." Jayce told Ned. "The night before arriving here, I had another dream, uncle. Not of the past but of a future, yet also different others. Most dreams of the future show me something happening in motion, like with the past, but that last one was much different. It showed me… I think it showed me exactly what would happen if Jon Arryn succeeded here: Catelyn Stark back, North, Riverlands and Vale united, but later on, your wife would begin a war against the Lannisters. It was only flashes of events, like frozen pictures of reality before my eyes, but in a clear sequence…"

"Catelyn would start a war with Lannisters? Why?" Ned asked of Jayce, who shook his head.

"I only saw bits and pieces, I am afraid, not all detail of everything that could happen. But what I saw was more than enough to make me understand, that if Catelyn Tully is back in Winterfell, then the Starks and the North will suffer." Jayce stated to Ned with clear confidence in his words. "You will die in King's Landing, cursed as a traitor, Sansa will be a prisoner of Lannisters, while Arya will disappear. Robb will raise banners and march south, but will fail, be betrayed by Boltons, while Winterfell will be taken by Greyjoys, Bran will die, and then after all this, Winterfell will fall to Boltons. All of that would happen, if Catelyn returns to Winterfell, so whatever you do, do not let it happen. The North has spilt enough blood because of the South, I say." Jayce let out a sigh, with Eddard sitting back, thinking of it all for some time, before speaking up.

"Does Robert know any of it?" Ned asked of Jayce.

"At that point, he didn't, but I doubt he ever learned of it." Jayce shared with his uncle. "Even if you expose it all now, what good will it do to you or the North? It'll matter nothing, and if you wish to do the right thing, then mayhaps it is time for the Quiet Wolf to show to them, that he too can play the Game."

"I detest this whole thing to my core." Eddard admitted.

"Mayhaps you do, but in this Game, you are either a player or a piece. And up until now, you were a piece on Jon Arryn's board." Jayce remarked, with Ned turning his eyes to him.

"Then, what do you suggest I do?" Ned asked of Jayce, who cocked a brow at his request. "At this point, you are the only one I know who will not use or lie to me, Jayce. I… I was not made to be Lord of Winterfell. It was supposed to be Brandon who would rule, and I would serve him, nothing like this." Eddard confessed what he had thought of for many years now, with Jayce thinking of it, before remembering something.

"When I was to Dragonstone last time, I had a dream of the past, and in it, I was given an advice by which I now live: "Dragons writes his own songs, not have them written for them." Jayce recalled. "I believe the same applies to Direwolves, so do what you must with what you know, uncle. And as for me… Well, I've always wanted to see Essos, and I reckon everyone will be all the happier and less likely to wish me murdered, if I'm across the Narrow Sea." Jayce smiled to Ned, who understood what he meant, who let out several humorous chuckles.

"Are you sure of it, Jayce?" Ned asked of him. "This… This doesn't have to be permanent."

"Oh no, I do not plan on seeing myself casted away in Essos in perpetuity, uncle. I do plan to come back, whether wanted by them or not." Jayce assured him, with Ned rising from his seat. "But right now, the North and Starks will have better use of me as a bargaining chip of sorts. One must make sacrifices for the sake of duty, mustn't they?" Jayce reminded Ned of one of his lessons, with Ned nodding to him.

"Aye, that is the Stark's way." Ned said, before he moved to give his nephew a warm embrace. "No matter what may happen, Jayce, I wish you to know, that I am proud of you, my boy. You are a Stark of Winterfell and the North, always remember it."

"I will, uncle." Jayce assured him. "I do need to ask you of one thing, uncle."

"Anything, Jayce." Ned released him from his embrace.

"What did mother call Jon?" Jayce asked of Ned.

"She named him Daemon, after the Rogue Prince. She hoped he would be as dashing and adventurous as he was." Ned said, with Jayce chuckling at the irony.

"Yet it turns out that Jacaerys is Daemon." Jayce replied to Ned, who couldn't help but agree with him.

---

Several days later.

The Mermen's Court has been assembled in full, nearly bursting with the people ready to see the justice, or at least a show of it done to Jayce Stark, who stood and looked like he didn't have a care in the world. Indeed, he already knew all that was going to happen, but he wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction with seeing him put up a mummer's show or anything of that sort, no he will not. Let them think that they've won, when in reality it is Jayce who will be the victor in this situation, and he'll not hide it from them. Jon Arryn stood up, with Lords Stark, Tully, Manderly and many others following, before he began to speak.

"Jayce Stark, with the power invested in me by the Crown, and with Royal authority and decree, I, Jon Arryn, Warden of the East, Lord Paramount of the Vale, Hand of the King, pass on this sentence upon you: for your crime of showing open disrespect to the authority of the Crown, spilling the blood of the Noble House Tully and attempts at sullying the name of House Arryn and current Hand of the King, you are hereby stripped of all the privelage of an Heir Presumptive of House Stark, casted out of its line of inheritance, and are banished from the soil of the North, and all the rest of Seven Kingdoms." Jon Arryn voiced the verdict, wishing to make it look as legitimate as it could be, yet all knew that this was a little more than a farce, with Jayce smirking to him at it. "Furthermore, in order to atone for your insult towards my noble person, and by proxy, the Crown, it has been determined that you shall relieve yourself of your prized possession, the Valyrian Steel Sword Nightfall." Before that, the hall was near an eruption point, but at this point, that line was passed.

"This is an outrage! He earned that steel, you proud peacock!"

"Thievery! Just like his fucking vassals, the Falcon can't help himself to shiny things!"

"The lord is the same as his vassals, aye! You should put a magpie on your banner!"

"This is no trial! This is fucking mockery of one, like with that crazy trout!"

"Let's give them a trial by steel!" And at that moment, Jayce finally spoke up.

"Milords and Ladies!" Jayce's voice was loud enough to get the attention of entire room, as he now took turn to address them all. "You are all most certainly correct! This is not a Trial, but a mockery of one indeed! A mummer's show, designed all for one express purpose- to satiate and heal the wounded pride of Lord Hand and his friends. You all here stood witness to a true trial of mine, same as the one Lady Stark had, but… I plead to all of you, enough blood has been spilled, and I implore you, not to draw your steel, for I am but a bastard who rose too high out of my place. I never thought to get Winterfell or the North, nor do I wish for it, no matter my love for them and my family, and it is for their sake I do take this penance upon myself! Rest assured, for I know of my decisions and Lord Stark did indeed nigh begged me, as any loving father would, to not take this upon myself, but… But also learned from him, that all men and women of the North have a duty to do, and a punishment to bear. I broke the rite of hospitality when I spilled blood upon this very floor, aye! I killed a man in a mockery of a Trial, who was also kin to my brothers and sisters, aye! I've acted against the North's betterment, and for that treason I ask your forgiveness, but to forgive myself, I shall seek atonement away from here." Jayce unstrapped his blade and walked to Jon Arryn, presenting Nightfall to him, while the entire hall watched.

"Here it is, Lord Arryn. You can have it." And then he simply dropped the sword on to the legs of Arryn, right before his face, turning away and walking towards the exit, while the Lords and Ladies of the North laughed openly at Jayce's act. "I hope that's all you want from me, Lord Arryn. Have a good day." Jayce said with a carefree attitude.

"Insolent boy! Do you think this a mummer's show and you can just walk way like that?!" Jon Arryn was absolutely livid, both at the sheer disrespect of the boy, and the fact that he seemed to have failed shame him in away. "You are exiled, disinherited and casted out! Do you understand what that means?"

"Aye, perfectly so." Jayce said, as he turned to him with a smirk. "Despite what some dead fools might think, I do consider my mind to be equal to my fairness." Jayce said with a joking tone, with Lord Arryn fuming from it, while the court laughed at this exchange.

"Calm yourself, my love. He is just putting up a mask, like a mummer would." Lysa Tully assured her husband, while glaring daggers at Jayce. "None are taken with your performance, you bastard. Have some dignity and leave at once, before you show your true pitiful colors."

"It would be my greatest pleasure, milady, second only to not seeing you put up such a poor show of a loving wife." Jayce bit back with cheek, with Lysa Tully turning purple from it. "Lord Stark, Lord Manderly, all the best wishes." To them and the rest of the Lords of the North, Jayce gave a ceremonial and respectful bow, and so finally left the court, with the Northern Lords and Ladies looking at him with a mix of pride and incredulity, before he was joined by Ser Arthur, Laenor and Baelon.

"That was arguably the best show in my life." Ser Arthur commented with a chuckle. "You may not have much patience for music, but mummery… Oh, Elia would've loved that. Though I do struggle to think as to why Lord Stark allowed it to happen in the first thing, this whole mockery of justice."

"Well, they decided to make a mockery trial, I made a mockery of them, so I say it is a fair exchange, all and all." Jayce said, as they walked through the halls. "Lord Stark only allowed it to happen because I asked him to. He did say that the terms he gave to Jon and Hoster were quite biter and hard to swallow, so to save face, or what is left of it, they decided to hold this mockery. It was mostly Hoster's idea, but Jon Arryn enjoyed too."

"And you've gone on ahead and made it into a play of your genuine penance, duty, honor and all the rest of it, while making it clear that this was all but a mockery for them." Laenor remarked. "What of Nightfall? I know you valued your sword."

"Aye, I did, but if Lord Arryn is so stupid as to not understand what he did just now by taking my blade like he did, tells me, that his pride rules over his mind, and now everyone saw him as a petty old man, more concerned with satisfying his own desires than actual duty and justice." Jayce said with a smirk. "And nigh every lord and lady of the Vale, Riverlands and the North saw it. Within a month, every soul will know of it too, and what will become of Lord Arryn, once he has lost all of that hard worked and won prestige and clout?"

"He will be a whole new world of problems." Baelon surmised. "But was it worth being exiled?"

"I do not plan to stay away for eternity, Baelon. And besides, chances are more than likely, you'll always know where to find me." Jayce told him, hinting that he knew of Velaryon spies.

"Do you think you have anyone fooled with that mummery, bastard?" An all too familiar voice of Lady Catelyn Tully stopped Jayce and his friends, forcing them to turn and face the smirking fish. "I know you, and I know your dark heart and empty soul, and I know that now, you are nothing." Catelyn stated to him with a victorious smile, but Jayce simply answered with his own smile, motioning others not to get involved.

"Oh, but I am far from nothing, or else you wouldn't be here, Lady Tully." Jayce remarked to her. "I was wondering when we would have a chance to once again have another one of our wonderful conversations."

"You may've robbed me and my father Edmure, but you are finally gone, and it will be my blood that will inherit Winterfell and the North, as well as the Riverlands." Catelyn hissed at him. "My sole regret is that I'll not get to see you die, like your worthless little brother did. Shame he didn't even have any courage to go leave the world in peace, and instead clawed his way with screams and pleas, begging to get out." With every word, Jayce's smile diminished, until it completely disappeared, and once Catelyn was done, Jayce finally spoke, as he closed the distance alarmingly close to Catelyn, forcing her to back against the wall.

"Your blood may hold the North and Riverlands, but your House's name will die, as will memory of it. The name Stark will live on, and wolves will rule the rivers, but you will not get to see it happen, Catelyn." Jayce suddenly reached for her ear, and whispered to her, as she shuddered from fear. "Remember it well, Catelyn: Winter is Coming, and yours will come with Fire and Blood." He whispered those words, and then turned away and left her there, no more words or promises left to give to her.

---

Three days later. King's Landing. Red Keep. Council's Chambers.

"Milords, Your Graces, a report has come from the White Harbor this morning…" Grand Maester Pycelle addressed the Council, with the King and Queen present.

"Ah, finally! I was actually wondering how Jon was faring on those talks of his." Robert said, though it was clear that his interest was less than profound. "Well, get on with it. What does it all say?"

"I-I fear I must report, th-that the Lord Hand h-has…" Pycelle struggled to speak, sweat covering his face and brows, with Robert simply giving up at him and turning to Varys.

"Spider, report and make it clear for all to hear." Robert simply ordered, with Varys bowing his head, and then reported all that has taken place in the North, leaving the entire room in absolute shock. "What the fuck did you just say?! Jon fucking banished Jayce for making him look weak?!" Robert demanded to know.

"I only bring your words of my little birds, Your Grace, and I fear that these are not good ones. Lord Arryn has indeed did so, though with consent of Lord Stark and Jayce himself, I believe, though he has also invoked the Royal decree and authority, which, in legal terms means…" Varys tried to explain as politely as possible, but was interrupted by Stannis Baratheon.

"It means that he used your name and authority to make it all happen, Robert, to give that mockery of a trial whatever degree of legality." Stannis stated with clear fury in his tone. "Of all the people, I least expected Jon Arryn to do such a thing, and to Jayce Stark of all people."

"Yet Lord Hand did have that kind of right and authority in him, and his person was insulted by young Stark, despite his earlier heroics taken into the account or not." Petyr Baelish spoke up.

"Yet he was absolved that crime in a Trial, which was legally witnessed and held, and confirmed to have been done in a lawful manner." Varys remarked, before letting out a sigh with closed eyes. "And yet, the innocent hero of the North suffered. It seems that the Starks do indeed suffer only injustice and misfortunes in the South, even at the hands of supposed friends. It is a punishment enough to be exiled like this, but to also be robbed…" Varys shook his head, with Robert and others picking upon it.

"What do you mean, robbed?" Stannis asked, with Varys immediately answering.

"Oh my, you will have to forgive me, Your Grace. This whole horrid affair has eclipsed in my memory for a moment one detail. It would seem, that disinheritance, banishment and public humiliation were not enough of punishments for the boy to suffer, so Lord Hand has also demanded, that Jayce Stark hand over his blade to him." Varys added.

"And, what so special about some sword?" Renly asked. "I'm sure the boy can find himself another."

"Mayhaps, Your Grace, though I fear that young Jayce may not gain one such as he had before, for the blade in question is Valyrian Steel Sword, Nightfall." Varys reminded all of it, adding flame to Robert's fury. "I have already heard quite a number of whispers, speaking of Lord Arryn's greed and vanity, coming from quite a number of Lords and Ladies of various pedigree and status, as well as location. The entire affair has all but destroyed his reputation and good name, and that last insult to young Stark… I fear that our Lord Hand has mired himself beyond recovery."

"He made a mockery of justice and Crown's authority, all because he decided to overstep his fucking boundaries!" Stannis stated with flame in his eyes and voice. "I do not care if he has defended Hoster Tully or not, but he needs to answer for this, Robert!"

"Aye, and he will! Fuck those trouts if he mentions them, they can go fuck themselves to the ends of the earth!" Robert bellowed out in fury. "Order Jon back here at once! I'll have him explain himself to me in person! Who the fuck does he think he is to do such a thing?! I'll write to Ned personally, and revoke this whole nonsense!"

"I am afraid, Your Grace, that it will not be so simple." Varys spoke up again. "As you recall, you've granted Lord Arryn usage of the Royal Seal, and he has used it… To make this whole decision your decree, so I fear that technically, it is not Jon Arryn who banished young Jayce, but…" At that moment, Robert grabbed his cup with wine and sent it flying out of rage into the streets below, as he roared from understanding of what had happened.

"Send him word, that I want him here, and that he brings that fucking brooch and my Seal with him!" Robert statedwith fury, as he prepared to leave. "You are to keep an eye out on the lad, Spider. If he dies or gets injured, I'll have your head instead of your balls, am I clear?"

"As crystal as the skies, Your Grace." Varys called out.

"I'll go write Ned…" And with this, Robert left the chambers in worse moods than he came, and none notice a victorious vicious smirk on the lips of Cersei, who already had in mind the replacement for Jon Arryn.

---

Driftmark. High Tide.

To say that Lucerys Velaryon and his family were not pleased with the actions taken by Jon Arryn would be an understatement, as the anger at this injustice and show of absolute pettiness overshadowed the growing pains in Lucerys' joints from gout. He was sitting atop his Driftwood Throne, the crumpled letter in his hand, while much of his family was here with him discussing all of it.

"This is unfair! How could Jon Arryn do such a thing, and why did Lord Stark allow it?!" Baela spoke up with fire, before turning to her grandfather. "Grandfather, can't you do anything about it?"

"I wish I could, my dear, but…" Lucerys stopped mid-sentence, as his gout acted up, pain flaring in his legs to the point of nearly causing him to double down, with Beatrice hurrying to his side. "Ugh…" Grunts and groans was all that Lucerys could produce from himself.

"You need to lay in bed, my love." She told him, as Lucerys shook his head, sweat pouring down from his brows and head. "Please, Lucerys, you will help none if you can't even speak from pain. I beg of you to consider your health before all, just for a moment…" Beatrice pleaded, and Lucerys relented, and gave her a nod, and she immediately ordered servants to help Lucerys to his chambers, following him and leaving the Ashara with her children.

"Grandfather looked worse than ever." Alyn noted with sadness. "Is it because Jayce will never come back home?"

"He was very sad about Jayce, yes, Alyn, but Jayce will come back. He promised he would." Ashara assured him, while she let out a sigh. "At least he will have Arthur with him, and Laenor is taking them to Braavos. I'm sure Lady Beatrice's kin will take good care of him and we will be able to visit him."

"Maybe, mother, but it won't be the same as having him with us." Baela remarked with sadness, with Ashara agreeing with her daughter, while Baela picked up the crumpled paper and read it again. "He even had his sword stolen from him… Now I understand why Jayce said such things of Lord Arryn before he set off for this patrol."

"What did he say, Baela?" Alyssa asked cutely.

"He said that Old Falcon always wished for what was not his, and that he would steal the whole world, if he could." Baela stated, as she recalled Jayce's words of his Dragon Dream.

---

Dorne. Sunspear.

"My dear Brother, you know that I love you more than all my children combined, but if you pull me awake at such an early hour again, I shall curse your name." Oberyn Martell said with an irate tone. "You know how I hate it when you do such things, especially when I am with Ellaria."

"You will have to forgive me, Oberyn. As an offer of peace and reconciliation, you and your Paramour are free to whatever girls and boys catch your eyes at our brothels, with my coin paying for them all." Doran told his brother, who immediately appreciated the offer, as he poured himself wine.

"A most generous offer, and accepted with gratitude." Oberyn said, as he downed his cup. "But I doubt you pulled me out Ellaria's arms just to shower me with gifts. To what end did you call me here so early?"

"Have you heard news from the North and of the Hand of the King?" Doran asked, with Oberyn laughing openly.

"You mean of the vane folly of the Falcon and how he was humiliated by a Stark boy? I most certainly did, and I've raised my cup at least thrice to that boy and his deeds. And I shall do so again. To the vicious Sea Wolf!" Oberyn poured his wine and drank it. "Never did I think that I would actually toast to a Stark, but of all of those wolves, it seems he alone has fangs and claws. Though mayhaps it is thanks to his Dornish blood."

"Yes… He is son of Ashara, is he not?" Doran asked of Oberyn, who nodded. "Hm, I do find it queer that Ashara would allow her former lover to take her children like he did. She is quite a fierce mother, is she not?"

"From what I heard, she most certainly is, but why exactly are we discussing the Sea Wolf, Doran?" Oberyn asked him directly. "Do not tell me that you've decided to offer him to Arianne? Though given what candidates you've offered before, she would take him without a moment's notice. I did hear that unlike the rest of Starks and Tully brood, he is of Dayne's blood in looks."

"Dayne's… Or perhaps Valyrian, more like." Doran suddenly said, confusing Oberyn. "And he has Ser Arthur Dayne at his side all the time as well… Almost like a Prince would have a Kingsguard."

"What are you eluding to, brother?" Oberyn asked of Doran.

"Tell me, Oberyn, do you consider Ser Arthur to be a loyal Knight and Kingsguard, who would put duty before even his life and personal feelings?" Oberyn nodded to it. "Then answer me: why is he with his bastard nephew, and not out in Essos, at the side of Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys?" Doran asked of Oberyn, who failed to give an answer to it.

"Hm, you have a point there." Oberyn admitted, as he pondered on the same thing. "I doubt that Arthur would turn traitor or an oathbreaker…"

"No he would not, and then there is also what I've heard of his oath to the Usurper." Doran added. "In his oath, he did not mention the Stag's name. He said that he would: "one true King of Westeros." He did not name Robert Baratheon, and I've heard from Ulric, that young Stark was also in that tent on that day." Doran said, as his eyes narrowed, with Oberyn also pondering of the thing, before a thought came to his mind.

"Yes, and he was at the Tower of Joy, guarding the Stark girl…" And when that was heard, both Oberyn and Doran turned to each other, same thought crossing their minds. "The one true King of Westeros… The Quiet Wolf brought with him from Dorne not just his sister's dead body, but also two bastards."

"Not bastards, but Rhaegar's two sons." Doran corrected him, as he clenched his fist from realization. "What a joke of Gods, to have one of Rhaegar's own spawns serve the Usurper and be legitimized by him… We've underestimated the Quiet Wolf, my brother, as well as his sister."

"May be so, but they were not of Elia." Oberyn reminded Doran. "They are of the woman for whom Rhaegar left her and their children."

"Mayhaps, but remember that children of Dorne do not bear their parents' sins, and Jayce Stark was born in Dorne, and has now also shamed and weakened the Usurper and his closest ally." Doran stated to Oberyn, who agreed with him. "A child of Rhaegar could prove to be the means we need to avenge our blood, and to see the Lions and Stags casted down for good. Viserys may be gaining support and followers with his sudden prowess in Essos, but son of Rhaegar Targaryen could rally all who loved him and who hate Usurper, not to mention that the North and Velaryons are with him already."

"You wish me to seek him out?" Oberyn asked of him, with Doran nodding to him. "Shall I merely talk to him, or will you wish to see him for yourself?"

"Best I see him myself, unlike with Viserys." Doran stated to Oberyn. "Seek him out and bring him to Water Gardens, but do so in quiet, without the Spider's notice, or Arianne's. Take only those you would trust with subtlety of this task in this."

"Tyene and Nymeria will do, they will understand what is required of it." Oberyn told Doran, who nodded to him. "I shall set out on the morrow of next day. Where would you suggest I look for him?" Oberyn asked him.

"Braavos. Of all the Free Cities, he has the most repute in there, and Velaryons are kin to one of magister families there. Most likely, he will find hospitality and home with them, at least for a time." Doran told Oberyn who nodded to him. "With him, may rest our best chance for vengeance, brother. Do not forget it."

"Never, brother." Oberyn assured him. "Fire and Blood.

"Fire and Blood." Doran repeated, as a new scheme and plan starting to take shape in his mind, with this revelation clear to him in full.

---

Well, looks like Jayce still got to ruin Jon Arryn's day, and in what a way to make an L into a W. Oh, and do not worry about Nightfall, he'll soon enough have a sword more worthy of his bloodline, speaking of which, it would seem that Jayce is starting to accept more and more who he is…

Oh, and here is a little quiz for you all: Who do you think was the person behind the Sistermen attack on the North?

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and will give me a review, a comment about it or a suggestion about future events or possible romance option, or ask a question about the story or characters. Your contributions help me make this story better.

Next time: From Braavos to Andal Coast; A new calling and to Lys; Son of a Prince meets a daughter of a King...