King's Landing 297 AC.

Margaery.

She had almost had to be held in her seat to stop her from going to him, only her grandmother's words and Sansa's hand keeping her from doing so. As she had looked down and seen Joy with him, she had felt it should have been her to offer him that comfort, though she was glad someone did. Sitting through the archery was a chore after that and she was glad it was over, though not so much that the melee would take place just after lunch.

Watching as Jon, Joy, and Loras walked from the stands she again wished for nothing more than to be able to follow them. The smile and nod Jon gave her and Sansa not enough to make them feel reassured. Again though her grandmother stepped in and they were taken to lunch, instead of the back where Jon had headed off to. Not that any of them had any appetite to eat.

"Grandmother shouldn't we?" she asked and she felt her grandmother's hand on her shoulder.

"We should but we mustn't, not yet, later Margaery we can speak with him later." her grandmother said, and again she reluctantly accepted.

Sansa did too and she was surprised at that, but she quickly explained that he had others around him and they all rushing to him would be suspicious. On another day she'd have been proud of her friend for seeing the politics of the situation, today though she was not. Instead, it was just another reminder of why she was not allowed to do what she knew was right and she wasn't in the mood to welcome it.

It was Willas who found the solution, telling them that they going to wish Jon well in the melee was something anyone would expect, even more so with Loras competing also. Arriving at the tent she found more people than she expected and fewer of the ones she had thought would be there. She had thought Joy would still be there and the Lannister's also but there were none of them here, for now at least.

Instead, it was Jon, Loras, Cregan, Brienne and Robb, all the competitors and no family, no friends who were not taking part and she wondered why that was. Moving inside the tent she saw Jon putting on his armor, Prince Tommen standing by his side as Jon explained how to him. In the corner, Ser Barristan and Ser Arthur spoke and it took them time to see her and Sansa.

"I came to wish you all well." she said while Sansa hugged Jon and she did the same to Loras, whispering in his ear to see if Jon was doing likewise as he looked "How is he?".

"Determined." Loras said back.

"Prince Tommen, can you and Ser Barristan check the lists and see who it is I should fear?" Jon said with a smile looking to the prince.

"Are you afraid Ser Jon?" the prince asked his voice troubled.

"Of course not my prince, I have my squire to help me do I not." Jon said mussing the boy's hair and making him laugh as he and Barristan ran off.

They were gone no more than a moment when she ran over and grabbed him and held him tightly, Jon softly stroking her back as she did so.

"I'm well Marge, truly, I've dealt with it." he said softly.

"Jon, I'm so sorry, I wished I could have been, I…should have been." she said and he kissed her cheek as he whispered in her ear.

"You are." he said and she looked at him to see him nod "You are always." he said his hand touching the favor on his belt.

"Are you, should you compete?" she asked and very quickly learned she'd not been the first to ask him this.

"I know people are worried about me and I'm grateful for it truly, I'd not do this if I felt I couldn't. I'd back out, make an excuse, trust me I would." he said and she nodded.

She heard Cregan tell her that the prince was on his way back and she moved to speak to Loras once more, her brother nodding when she did so.

"Ser Jon, The Greatjon and Smalljon and The Blackfish, Ser Rolland Storm and.."Tommen said as he looked to Ser Barristan to make sure he had it right "Lady Dacey Lannister." the prince said a moment later.

"You see, I knew my squire would see me right, excellent work my prince, I can surely win it all now." Jon said and she wasn't sure if he was really that confident or if it was just for the prince's benefit.

"As long as you keep away from Dacey's mace." Loras said and she watched as Jon crinkled his eyes and moved to her brother.

"I was going to distract her with you my friend, use you as my shield." Jon said wrapping his arms around Loras from behind and winking at the prince and making him giggle.

"Get off me you fool." Loras said laughing as he pushed Jon away.

She smiled when he looked to her and felt more relaxed as they stood there, even when the Blackfish and Bran came to speak to them. Sansa talking to her brother as Robb and Jon spoke with the Blackfish. Lady Wynafred and Lady Wylla came by to wish them all well and she watched jealously as Robb and his betrothed were able to share time alone together. Jon's eyes on them and then her as they did so and she saw him touch her favor more than once.

When it came time to leave she almost couldn't bring herself to, wanting to take him with her, to keep him from the melee and shield him from any possible harm. Instead, though she watched as he hugged Sansa and whispered in her ear and she saw them look to her. He then walked over to her and with his words bid her farewell, while with his eyes he tried to tell her that all would be well.

"I thank you for the kind words my lady, I trust you will enjoy the day." he said and she nodded as she looked at him.

"I shall do my best to Ser Jon, I wish you good fortune.".

"I thank you, my lady, it's greatly appreciated, truly." he said and she tried to smile back when he smiled at her, she tried to make it true and hoped that she'd succeeded.

As they were leaving the tent they met with Lady Genna and Joy who were coming to wish their own good fortunes. Joy smiling when she saw them only to frown a moment later and move to her.

"Pen Nut Margy." the girl said and Margaery smiled a truer smile then.

"Thank you Joy." she said taking the offered peanut.

They were walking back and as soon as they were out of the earshot of anyone who could overhear, Sansa grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear.

"Jon told me to tell you that all will be well, he won't take risks and he promises he'll walk from the field unharmed. He told me that he carries a favor which has brought him nothing but luck since he was given it, today won't be any different." Sansa whispered and she hugged her and nodded her head.

They took their seats and readied for the competitors to line up, Margaery looking to see the King's excitement as the moment drew closer. Sansa grabbed her hand and she was glad of it, the comfort of it, and knowing that like her, Sansa only wished for those she cared about to be safe. She looked around to see she was not the only one who was worried, Joy sat between her father and Cregan's mother, Jaime with Genna and Wylla and Wynafred with their grandfather.

All of them looked out at the open field and Margaery closed her eyes and began to pray. She asked the warrior to give him strength and the mother to watch over him, the maiden to protect her love and the father to give him courage. The crone to give him the wisdom to not do anything reckless and the smith to give him the tools he needed to win. To the stranger her prayer was far simpler, stay away.

King's Landing 297 AC.

Genna.

While Jaime and Gerion worried about Jon's well being she found herself just wishing this whole thing was over with, that they were gone from this place and back in the West. Tion and Walder were far too excited for the squire's duels and while she could understand it, she found she had no desire for them to be warriors. Looking at Emmon sitting beside her, she for the first time found herself wishing her children took more after their father.

With Jon, she didn't fear for him physically or even mentally if she was being totally honest. The rage he felt for the fat stag and falcon wasn't blinding, nor forcing him to do reckless things as Jaime had suggested. If anything from what she'd seen, his anger and rage was well under control and focussed where it should be. Her worries, therefore, were more for what everyone else would feel should he be hurt.

Even were it minor they'd reach badly she thought, so full of worry were they for him in the first place that they'd see it as worse than it may be. She could see Sansa and Margaery were far too nervous as they sat in their seats, Joy held her father's hand and Jaime was more worried about Jon than he was his wife. It was as if sense had abandoned them in a way and she supposed that was true to an extent.

"Do you think Jon can win Mother?." Tion asked and she smiled as he looked at her boy.

"Aye I do, did you bet on him?" she asked.

"Him and Loras." Tion said as Walder added that he'd done the same.

She was glad of that, while they had a connection with Jon, he wasn't the only one who had trained them, Loras too playing his part. Looking to Joy once again she found herself worrying for her most of all, her niece was perhaps the closest of them all to Jon and she had been so proud of her earlier that day. How she had comforted him when the stag had presented that horror show, holding his hand and speaking to him. Genna had no doubt had Joy not been beside him then the fat stag would have felt a dragon's rage today, though it was only a temporary respite.

It seemed to take an age for the competitors to make their way out to the grounds, Genna looking to see those she cared about amongst them. Jon stood with Cregan, Brienne, Loras, and his brother and she felt that apart from Brienne none of them looked big enough to be out there. But jousting and melees were the way of the realm and not even her own sons would be spared them before too long.

"Your Graces, My Lord and Ladies, good men and women of King's Landing and the realm. His grace Robert Baratheon the first of his name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and the first men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, welcomes you all to the Tourney of King's Landing 297 AC. The tourney to celebrate the death of the last dragon.

By his grace's command, the Melee will now take place, with a prize of 20,000 gold dragons it has brought notable warriors from throughout the realm.

Representing the Vale Lord Yohn Royce and his sons and Ser Brynden Tully the Blackfish.

Representing the Reach, Lord Randyl Tarly, Ser Baelor Hightower, Lord Loras Tyrell and Ser Erren Florent.

Representing the West, Lady Dacey Lannister, Lord Rolland Crakehall and his son Ser Lyle the Strongboar, Ser Flement Brax, and Ser Jon Snow who has wagered the king that he'd win the day.

Representing the North, Lord Jon Umber the Greatjon and his son the Smalljon, and Ser Walder Alyrs.

Representing the Stormlands, Lord Beric Dondarrion, Ser Rolland Storm, Ser Balon Swann, and Lady Brienne Tarth .

Representing the Riverlands, Lord Edmure Tully, Ser Patrek Mallister, Ser Marq Piper, and Ser Hugo Vance.

From the Crownlands and representing the crown, Ser Arys Oakheart of the Kingsguard, Ser Justin Massey of the Kingsguard, Ser Richard Horpe of the Kingsguard, and Thoros of Myr.

My Lords, My Ladies I give you the Melee."

The Melee.

Robb.

It was chaos and far different than the squire's melee, not only were the blows far heavier but he was soon at an even bigger disadvantage than power alone. These men were far more experienced than he and were it not for his cousin fighting alongside him then he would have fallen by now. Ahead of him Brienne and Loras were fighting alongside each other and beside him, Cregan was helping him do the same.

Ser Walder was fighting alone against a big man and as for Jon, his brother was taking on more than one. It took a lot for him to fight down his instinct to help and he could see with Loras, Brienne, Ser Walder they too were having the same feelings he was. Cregan was more concentrated on the opponent in front of him and Robb was thankful for that.

As he deflected a blow he began to think back on Syrio's words, trying to allow them to be his guide.

"Distracted, distracted is when the fight comes, should you be distracted when the fight come boy, do you know what you'll be?" Syrio asked.

"Dead?" Robb replied.

"Very dead." Syrio said as he placed the wooden sword to his neck.

He moved out of range and began to glide as best he could, his movements smooth and unhurried while his opponent grew even angrier. He deflected a blow from the mace and went for a leg sweep only to find he didn't have the strength to take the man to the ground. So instead he slammed his sword on the man's back and when he turned angrily he slammed it on his hand, watching as the mace fell to the ground.

"Yield?" he asked raising the sword.

"Aye, well-fought lad." the man said as he walked from the grounds.

Robb moved forward and looking back at his brother he sighed, were it not for his promise he'd be over there helping but he had given his word and so had the others. Today Jon was a stranger to them all and as he faced the Stormlander in front of him, all he could do was hope that Jon knew what he was doing.

Brienne.

The first opponent she beat was so easy she wondered why he'd even bothered enter. Had he simply faced lesser opponents all his life and convinced himself that he was far better than he truly was? Or was the lure of the coin something he couldn't resist? Either way, it mattered not and he had yielded and limped from the grounds and she found less time to dwell on it than she had expected.

"I've never beaten a lady before." the man from the Reach said, his voice full of pompous surety.

"I've never beaten an apple before either." she said with a smile as the Fossoway knight frowned.

"When you go to the back tell them Ser Tanton was who sent you on your way." he said smugly.

"God's do all you knights from the Reach talk so damn much?" she said as she moved towards him.

The knight was more practiced than the man she'd beaten earlier, his blade work good but she'd faced far better than he. She had him beat in strength too which he seemed unable to accept, trying his best to prove it false. Soon it became more about that than about any actual skill, the blows being parried and thrusts and ripostes long forgotten. Instead, it was almost two-handed blows they caught each other's blades with, the sound of them crashing down on each other reverberating throughout the field.

Brienne felt herself breathing heavily, the sheer effort both of them were putting in taking far more out of them than a fight should have. Eventually after a particularly hard blow, she managed to knock his sword from his hand. Moving quicker than he, she placed her blade at his chest and watched as he yielded quickly.

Turning and hoping for a breather she saw that while Loras had watched her back and kept anyone from sneaking up on her, in doing so they'd drifted apart and as she moved towards him she glanced around the field. She could see Ser Walder fighting in the distance and Lord Robb and Cregan off to the left. Looking to see where Jon was she found him facing three men, the one in the middle wearing the brown trout and she laughed until she saw a man wearing a black one come towards her.

"My lady, shall we." The Blackfish said.

"I'd be honored Ser Brynden." she said.

She would have liked to have been breathing more evenly and to have been less tired but it was not to be and she raised her sword and made ready to face a legend. While she may have held the edge in strength in everything else it was soon clear he had her beat, speed, technique and experience. The blades flew through the air, parry, feint, she moved back and tried a riposte only for it to be blocked.

Soon it was clear she was outmatched, her blows tiring while he did not and she found herself more on the defensive than offensive. She fell for a leg sweep and as she crawled away and got ready to rise, she saw the loose stones and picked them up. As the swords hit again she saw the opening when she blocked his attack and sent him slightly off balance. Holding the stones in her hand she got ready to throw them at his face when he turned and at the last moment she instead let them fall to the ground.

It proved to be the last thing she did in the melee that day as he was on to her and his leg sweep took her to the ground hard.

"Yield." he said and she nodded as he helped her back to her feet.

"I thank you Ser, it was an honor." she said and moved to walk away.

"You should have used the stones." the Blackfish said as he looked at her.

"There was no honor in it Ser Brynden." she said softly.

"Better to keep your life than your honor in a fight my lady, out here far too many honorable people die." he said as he walked away.

Brienne looked at him before she walked to the back and shook her head, she had heard Bronn say the same and had almost used what he had thought her. She wondered now after hearing The Blackfish say it were they right and she wrong? Was honor not something that could be found on a battlefield and only something you could stick to off of it?.

Loras.

He had been surprised to see Brienne fall and he felt terrible for it, even though he knew deep down it was not his fault. They had met and discussed their tactics for this fight, all of them deciding to stick together only for Jon to be the one to tell them no.

"What do you mean no?" he asked angrily.

"We can't, I see that now and I've learned it and while it's hard to accept, we have no choice." Jon said.

"This wasn't what I meant Jon.".

"No, but you were right, so tomorrow I wish you to do something different, pair up, just you and one other, and see how far that takes you. See if that distracts you and if you lose your partner then fight alone and see if there is a difference." Jon said.

"Brienne?" he asked and she nodded while he saw Robb do it to Cregan and then he looked to Walder expecting him to do so with Jon, only for the large knight to say nothing.

"Walder?" Robb asked before he could.

"I've asked Walder and now I'm going to ask you all, no matter what happens tomorrow no one is to come to my aid, no one." Jon said and he got up and walked over to him, his face red with anger.

"No, this is fucking ridiculous, this is not what I fucking meant Jon and you know it." he said looking at him.

"This is nothing to do with that Loras, this is for me, it's something I need to do. I need to learn this lesson and far better I learn it out there in a melee than later on. If I'm wrong, if I've made a mistake then only my pride will be hurt. Well unless someone catches me and I end up with more than a bruised ego." Jon laughed though he couldn't bring himself to join in.

"Jon?.".

"Please Loras." Jon said and he nodded.

So even when he saw the three men come to his friend he had done nothing and instead he moved with Brienne and made sure no one came up on her from behind. Over the course of the fight he had with the lad from the Vale, he found himself drifting further and further from her. For a moment thinking the lad had done so on purpose only to find it was just the natural flow of the fight.

By the time he'd dealt with him, Brienne had yielded to the Blackfish and he knew even him watching her back would have made no difference to that fight. She'd have faced him regardless and so he took comfort in that and even more in the sight of the big-eared fox. He moved quickly to make sure it was he that Ser Erren faced, feeling the fire rise in him as he did so.

"A flower for me to pluck, a pity it's not the golden rose though." Ser Erren said with a smirk which Loras soon wiped from his face.

"Had I a thing for women with mustaches then I'd say the same for your own sister Ser Erren, but I see even her husband could only bring himself to lay with her the once.".

Ser Erren almost growled as he came at him and Loras would normally feel bad about what he had said. But not only had the fox insulted his sister, it was as Bronn said, you fight with all the tools you have.

The blows were angry and misplaced, easy to dodge, and take advantage of and so take advantage he did. He caught Ser Erren hard on the thigh and the arm, he moved quickly and caught his helm slowing him down even more. The kick he caught him in the leg, while not taking his feet from him did at least force him to limp for the rest of the fight.

"And I thought foxes were cunning and clever, perhaps you need a new sigil Ser Erren, maybe an aurochs or something more in line with your ears, a rabbit perhaps?" he said and when he came at him Loras was ready for him.

He dodged the blow and the kick he gave him to the back of the leg may have broken something, were it not for the padding he would have heard an even louder scream from the man. Not that he cared or that it allowed him to stop what he wished to do, as he then swept the man's other leg and watched as he fell.

"Yield Ser Erren?" he said to no reply and so made to step on the man's injured leg "Yield.".

"Aye, I fucking yield flower, but this isn't over.".

"Is it not, it looks over to me." he said as he moved away to face his next opponent, and seeing the runes on the armor he was glad it was Ser Robar and not Lord Yohn.

Cregan.

Though the field had begun to whittle down and the melee had been going on for some time, he felt fresh and ready to face anyone. So far he had taken four men out, two from the Reach, one from the Stormlands and one from the West. He had watched his cousin's back and made sure that no one had snuck up on him, and he felt confident he could go for some more time.

The man who moved towards him looked impressive though, his armor was covered in runes and his movements assured. Cregan readied his blade and watched as the man took his stance.

"Ser Andar Royce." the knight said as he stood in front of him.

"Cregan Sand." he said and the knight nodded.

"Shall we?" the knight said and he gave him his nod and they quickly began.

He was certainly the best of the men here he'd faced, even if he was far from the best he'd ever faced. Cregan knew though one mistake, one lapse of concentration, would be the end of his day and in a true fight, it would cost even more. So he focussed on Ser Andar's stance, on his footwork, and on his blade, and he began moving quickly from side to side with his attacks as he looked for an opening.

The first flurry ended up with both of them realizing that this was not going to be easy. Andar thrust and he parried, he feinted and Andar ignored it, he caught him once and that was the only hit that either of them got in. The second was much faster as both of them ramped up the speed thinking that would see them right. As they took a breath after it they both smiled, looking at each other as they realized it would not and Andar nodded to him as he spoke.

"It's an honor crossing blades with you Cregan.".

"You too Ser Andar.".

He moved left and thrust right only to find nothing but air, Andar having anticipated it and moved away and only his reflexes saving him from taking a hard hit. Changing his stance he began to try little things, feints, and doubt feints, trying to look weak and tired to draw him in, and he found to his dismay that none of these seemed to work. The blades clashed again and he jumped back when Andar tried to take his feet, and then Cregan almost looked on shocked when he managed to take Andar's.

"Yield." he asked and Andar nodded.

"A good fight Cregan, I wish you good fortune." Andar said.

"You too Ser." he said smiling when the knight walked away.

As he turned though the smile left his face when he saw Robb crossing blades with an all too different foe, one he didn't think either of them was ready to face. Robb's swordwork no match for the flaming blade of Thoros of Myr. When he reached them it was over, his cousin having yielded and so he went into the fight seeking revenge.

Pretty soon he had learned two things, anger was only a help if you could focus it, and fighting a man with a fiery sword was far different than any other fight. Not only did you have to worry about the sword and the normal things you did during a fight. You then had the added bonus of fearing being burnt every single time the blade came anywhere close to you, the heat of the fire forcing you ever further back and making you flinch.

How long Robb had lasted against the priest he didn't know, what he did was that during the fight he lost all sense of skill or learning with a blade he had ever known. Instinct was no help either as the fire trumped that, your instinct, when faced with fire, was to recoil. He almost dropped his sword when Thoros's blade came close to his face and that in the end was enough to cost him the fight. Thoros quickly taking advantage of him trying to readjust by catching his other hand and Cregan on instinct trying to put out a flame that wasn't there.

"I yield." he said when Thoros held the sword to his chest and even though it was feet away he still moved back.

"My god will be happy to hear it." Thoros said.

Cregan watched as he walked to a bag at the side and placing the sword on the dirt the flame went out. The priest picking out another and he looked as the flames appeared on the sword where just moments earlier there had been none. Walking to the back he found Brienne and Robb waiting for him and after accepting the mug of water, he like them looked back to the fight inside.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

With three of them competing in the melee, Jon had asked Sansa and Bran to allow the wolves to go hunt in the Kingswood. Both of them had agreed and so he knew that right now that they were stalking a deer which had no chance, and that all five of them were enjoying being a pack once more. He had almost laughed when they'd then been introduced during the melee, Robert basically putting a target on his back.

Now as he saw the three of them coming towards him, he knew the target was already there, and in this instance, he was glad of it. Marg Piper and Hugo Vance he knew very little about, Richard had said they were part of Edmure's little circle though and so hearing their names he had expected it. That Edmure would send someone after him was no big surprise, him competing and coming after him personally though certainly was.

"Look the Bastard of Winterfell, or is it Casterly Rock." Edmure said haughtily.

"Ah, the Floppy fish has come with some friends, though I should have expected it. After all, you can't seem to manage things on your own, can you trout?" he said enjoying the angry glare Edmure gave him.

"We were only going to beat you a little, for that however it's going to be a lot." Marq said.

"Really, well you can't argue with a confident man." Jae said with a smirk.

"You should have kept to the squire's duels bastard, this is for big boys." Hugo Vance said.

"And you Ser should pick better friends, last time the floppy fish faced me he ended on his arse twice and that was without me even trying, what do you think I'll do to him now?" he said as he swung his sword and all three of them took a step back, Jae laughing as he looked at them.

While Marq and Hugo moved to face him Edmure held back, be it from fear or waiting to pick his moment Jae couldn't be sure, though he'd wager it was the former. With his sword in one hand and his knife in the other, he deflected both blows surprising the two men. He then decided to surprise them even more, spinning he caught Ser Marq across the arm and was then past them both and closer to Edmure.

He couldn't resist and so he made to move forward and tried not to laugh as Edmure tripped over his feet as he moved back. Turning back he ducked a blow from Hugo and jabbed the knife into his shoulder, the blunt blade connecting with bone sending a shockwave up Jae's arm as well as down Hugo's. With Edmure struggling to his feet and Hugo now backing off to allow his arm recover, it was left to him and Marq to have the fight.

Jae knew if Loras looked to him he'd think him a hypocrite, all the times he'd spoken to him of showing off in fights and now here he was and to all eyes, it would look as if he was doing the same. He hoped though that Jaime, Arthur, Walder, and others would see the method in what he was doing. He spun and jumped through the air, twisting to attack Marq's left side before spinning again to attack his right.

He then made it look as if he was doing the same again only to do a full instead of half turn in the air. Marg readying for him to attack his left leaving his right side open and Jae caught him hard, once, twice, three times. Hugo was coming fast from the left and Edmure from behind and he closed his eyes and looked to the sky, the door open and the eagle looking down. As he hit Marq once again, he could see them move in and he waited and waited and then rolled out of the way.

With Jae, not where he was but a few seconds earlier, Marq's blade caught Edmure hard and Edmure's own blow missed in return, Hugo's didn't as he followed through on his swing and caught Marq across the chest. In the confusion, Jae swept Marq's feet and caught Hugo with a shoulder and though he didn't catch Edmure as full as he wished, the kick did knock him further back.

"Yield." he said as he placed the blade to Marq's throat as he tried to get up.

"Aye, I yield.".

Jae didn't waste time, he moved to Hugo and watched as Edmure came running in. Waiting until he was close enough he judged the distance and once he was sure he threw the knife catching him flush on the head. With Edmure out of the fight, for now, it left him free to face Hugo and be it the shoulder he had hurt earlier or that the fight was gone from the man, he quickly seemed to give up.

"Yield?" he said holding the blade to him and Hugo quickly yielded.

Alone now with Edmure, he began to have fun, he'd feint and be so blatant about it that only a novice would fall for it and then he'd laugh as Edmure did. He'd leave himself open so that any competent swordsman would take advantage and then he'd shake his head when Edmure did not. What it looked like to those who were watching Jae could only imagine. But then as he looked around the field though he frowned, how long had he been playing with these fools he wondered as he swept Edmure's feet from under him.

"Yield.".

"Fuck you bastard.".

"Yield?" he said again and the way he shook his head reminded Jae of Walder and his hatred of vegetables, making him laugh even more loudly.

"I'll never yield to you bastard, never." Edmure said.

"Never say never trout." Jae said as he allowed Edmure up to his feet and looked at him "This could have been so easy."

Three times he spun and three times he got inside Edmure's guard, two of the hits were on either side of the fish's helm, the third one even harder on the top of it. As Edmure crumpled to the ground, Jae looked out to the stretcher-bearers and nodded as they came out. Grabbing his knife from the ground he walked towards the rest of the fighting and readied himself for a truer test.

Walder.

During his training with Arthur, he had learned the art of concentrating both on the man in front of you and on the man you were protecting. So despite what Jon had told him and the fact he was facing the Greatjon, Walder had his eyes on his king at all times. That the giant lord of the North had sought him out came as no surprise, the defeat still fresh in his mind.

"I think we need to dance again Ser Walder.".

"If you say so my lord." he said and moved his axe.

"I insist on it.".

He had heard people say the Mountain wielded his Greatsword like it was a short one and he had seen the chunk of metal that the Greatjon carried on his horse. While the tourney sword was nowhere near as impressive, it was still far larger than some of the other Greatswords and Walder wondered if it had been made special. The sound as it hit his axe seemed different too.

He swung hard and missed and only barely dodged the hit the Greatjon aimed at him in return, and like the last time they fought he knew this was going to be painful. Something the next blow proved as it caught him in the side and knocked him back a few feet. As the Greatjon swung again though he caught him twice, once with the blades of the axe and the second time with the shaft.

"It'll be my day today Walder." the Greatjon said laughing as he dodged his axe.

"Perhaps, as long as a Northman wins I'll be happy.".

"Aye, me too." the Greatjon said as their weapons clashed once again.

Just as the last time they fought it ended up coming down to strength when after a block from the Greatjon's blade they both ended up unarmed as the axe and the Greatsword fell to the ground. Unlike last time, however, the Greatjon didn't make a move to regain his sword, instead standing in front of him and making sure he couldn't get to his axe. He'd seen the Greatjon wrestle before, had heard from Lord Jaime that he'd done so years earlier when he and Jon had visited Last Hearth This though was anything but a wrestling match as the two of them came together and began to punch and kick the other. Walder swept the Greatjon's feet from under him and before he had a chance to celebrate the feat, he was pulled to the ground with him.

A head butt from the Greatjon had him staggering back allowing the man time to rise to his feet and he felt the kick in his side and hoped he'd not broken any of his ribs. Coughing and spluttering on the ground, he tried to get his bearing, watching as the Greatjon moved to his sword and feeling around for any weapon he could find. The stone was large and he waited until the man bent to pick up the sword, and as he turned to head back towards him he threw it.

"Fuck." the Greatjon said as he fell down on his arse, the force he'd landed with sending a vibration across the ground to where Walder was rising to his own feet.

He moved across and grabbed the Greatjon's sword and held to his neck, looking down to see how hurt the man was and relieved to see the smile on his face.

"Yield?".

"Aye, a hand?" The Greatjon asked and Walder helped him up.

"A good fight my lord." he said handing him the sword back.

"Aye, good fortune Walder, if you see my boy, knock him on his arse for me will ya?".

"Aye I will.".

Walder walked back to his axe and picked it up breathing heavily all the way. He looked to see Jon knock the trout out, laughing as he moved towards the rest of the fighting and soon he saw Jon following him. It was Jon who ended up facing the Smalljon, Walder finding himself laughing at the exchange.

"Who wants to face Goatsbane?".

"I'll face ya, you big fool." Jon shouted and he heard the Smalljon laugh.

"Where are ya lad, I can't see ya?" the Smalljon said his hands on his eyes as he looked around over Jon's head "Ah there you are all the way down there, why this isn't fair Jon.".

"I know, but I'll have to make do, should I put my hand behind my back do you think? Would that even the odds?" Jon said and he'd have loved to just stand, watch and listen.

"Ser Walder.".

"Ser Lyle." he said and the dance began again.

The Strongboar was faster than his father and stronger too and soon Walder began to realize that he may indeed have cracked a rib or two. It started to become harder to catch a breath and to swing his axe, he turned to look to see Jon dancing around the Smalljon, the man's blows not coming anywhere near him. Loras was facing a lord from the Stormlands and Dacey was facing off against Bronze Yohn. So when felt himself cough and he spat blood, he held up his hand.

"The day is yours Ser Lyle, we could fight and move some more but you'll win and.." he spat the blood out "It's a fucking tourney." he said and Ser Lyle laughed.

"It's not how I wished to take the day Ser Walder, but I'd rather the chance to face you unhurt, perhaps at the Rock sometime?".

"You can count on it Ser. I wish you good fortune for the rest of the day, Ser Lyle.".

"I thank you Ser Walder.".

He looked back to see Jon still fighting and he walked stiffly to the back, Robb, Cregan and Brienne standing there watching the event take place.

"Ser Walder?" Brienne asked concernedly.

"I think I broke a rib or two, I may need a maester." he said and he watched as his squire ran off.

"You are hurt?" Cregan asked.

"Aye, I think I stopped before it got worse." he said and was happy when the lad brought him some water to drink.

Brienne helped him to the tent and the Maester who was there confirmed the injury, he'd need to rest up for a few days and no physical work or sparring for a moon or so. The Maester saying that while he didn't think them broke, they were damaged and they'd need to heal.

"That's why you yielded Ser?" Brienne asked when the Maester had left them alone.

"Our king has far more important fights to come Brienne, I intend to be by his side and winning a tourney means far less than that.".

"Aye Ser, it does." she said and she helped him up as they both walked to the seats to watch the rest of the day.

Dacey.

Whether it was her showings in other fights or her being the Lady of Casterly Rock she wasn't sure, but the quality of opponent she faced was far better this time. Her first was Ser Patrek Mallister and she nodded and smiled before they began. The heir to Seagard had shown himself to be far different than his liege lord and was someone she considered a friend.

"Lady Dacey." Ser Patrek said.

"Ser Patrek." she replied.

"I figured if I were to get beat this day then better it be from a warrior I respect than to fall to someone lucky enough to catch me unawares." he said and she could relate to that.

"Even if it were a lady?" she asked with half a grin.

"To a lady such as yourself Lady Dacey, aye, shall we.".

Patrek was fast but she and her mace were faster and she didn't pull her blows in the exchanges. She blocked and then used the shaft or aimed for the shoulder and the arm, when the sword fell to the ground it was from repeated rather than single shots and she swore she saw the man smile as he yielded.

"The day is yours, my lady." Patrek said with a bow before he left.

Not that Dacey had a chance to enjoy her victory, as soon she found herself face to face with a knight from the Stormlands, though this one was far less friendly than Ser Patrek. He basically growled at her as he attacked with his morningstar and were it not for the battling swans on his sigil then she'd not even have known his name. Ser Balon Swann though being a decent hand with a morningstar should have kept to the archery and she soon began to find a rhythm.

That he had been rude didn't bother her, that he smirked at her did, and so she caught him hard on the shoulder and then on the opposite arm. She slammed her mace against his thigh and then his chest and lastly she caught him close to his elbow. The morningstar fell and she walked over and listened to him yield and then as she turned she heard him laugh.

"My lady I'd be honored to face you." Lord Yohn said and she nodded and moved towards him.

The last time she'd faced him she had the Smalljon with her and the lord had underestimated her greatly. This time she was alone and he was taking it far more seriously. He'd come prepared too, behind his back he carried his sword and in his hand, he held a mace and they began to fight.

The two maces crashed against each other and soon she got the edge, Lord Yohn may have practiced with a mace but on Bear Island, they were born with them in their hands. She was an artist and as she moved left and swung right or underhand the Bronze lord retreated. Dacey smiled when she took the mace from his hand and moved to take the win, only for the sword blow to catch her unawares, and before she knew it the blade was placed on her throat.

"Yield my lady?" Lord Yohn said and she almost shook her head, though it would have been in anger at herself.

"I yield my lord." she said and Bronze Yohn gave her a small bow before he walked away.

She had forgotten about the sword, so focussed had she been on the mace she'd forgotten about the sword. As she walked back she looked to see Loras running over to her, his day done as well.

"Who?" she asked.

"Ser Rolland Storm." he said though he didn't seem upset "You?".

"Bronze Yohn.".

The two of them looked back to the field, Ser Lyle was facing Ser Rolland, Bronze Yohn was now squaring off against Thoros, Ser Baelor was facing the Blackfish and Jon was facing the Smalljon. Two of the Kingsguard were facing off against each other and the other was facing Lord Tarly. She tried not to reflect that this was her poorest showing and instead she concentrated on Jon and the Smalljon, laughing as Goatsbane barely dodged an attack.

"Come, let's get to the back and try and watch the rest of this." she said and saw Loras nod.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

Fighting against the Smalljon was fun, he was so easy to rile up and Jae was using all the lessons he'd had with Bronn to annoy him. It was causing him to put far too much power into his strokes and allowing for Jae to move him how he wished and to conserve his own energy.

"Did you really move this slow when we were younger?" Jae said as the Smalljon tried and failed to catch him with a swing.

"Stop fucking moving Snow." The Smalljon shouted.

"Why? Can't you catch me? I'd have thought you'd had all that practice with the goats." Jae said with a chuckle.

"Snow." he shouted and charged towards him.

Jae waited until he was close and at the last moment, he ducked and rolled, the Smalljon's swing going far over where he had just been and almost spinning the large man around. As he hurried to get back into position Jae used a reverse sweep and the Smalljon and his sword fell to the ground, both of them ending some distance from each other.

"Yield?" he asked and could see the surprise on the Smalljon's face.

"You cheeky little fucker, you did that on purpose." the Smalljon said with a laugh.

"I had too, you're very large." he said with a chuckle before holding his hand out.

"Go, beat the rest of the fuckers or me, and me da will beat the fuck out of you later on.".

Jae looked over the rest of the field, the Blackfish was fighting Ser Baelor and Bronze Yohn against Thoros, almost everyone seemed to have an opponent and then he heard a voice from behind him and turned to see Randyl Tarly standing there.

"It's to be you then?" Randyl said with a bit of disgust in his voice.

"That it is Lord Tarly.".

"Very well, a bastard knight will have to do." the prickly lord said and Jae found himself face to face with a man he knew he'd need on his side.

His first instinct was to let the man win, to throw the match, and give Tarly a reason to think better of him but he knew more of Tarly than that. It would be far better to beat him easily than to allow him to win. When he found out the truth of him the defeat would be something he'd look on differently, a victory would be something he'd use against him.

Taking his stance he nodded and the lord came to him, the blow was powerful but easily deflected and he saw the look of surprise on Tarly's face. The next one was even harder but again he deflected it easily and he saw Tarly look at him a little more closely. The half helm he wore covered most of his face and he knew what he was about to do would annoy Arthur and Jaime. But after deflecting the third blow and moving quickly out of range, he reached up and took the helm off and threw it to the ground.

"What are you doing boy?" he heard Tarly say and Jae said nothing and just moved closer.

As the swords clashed he began to sing softly, not enough that it would carry but enough that Randyl Tarly would hear him loud and clear.

High in the halls,

Of the kings that are gone.

He thrust his sword and forced Randyl to step back the lord looking at him oddly.

Jenny would dance with her ghosts,

The ones she had lost and the ones she had found.

He spun and caught the lord across the arm before spinning the other way and almost catching the other side.

And the ones who had loved her the most.

He began to move faster now as the Lord looked at him, his blows coming left, then right, then right again, a spin and a swipe from the side forcing Randyl further on the defensive.

The ones who'd been gone for so very long.

She couldn't remember their names,

His sword moved so fast that Randyl couldn't see what was a feint and what was an actual strike, some getting through and others being barely deflected.

They spun her around on the damp old stones,

Spun away all her sorrow and pain.

Jae spun and jumped with his blade, the sword catching Randyl more and more as the Lord looked at him, with a final spin he caught the Lord's arm forcing him to turn slightly, and then he took his legs from under him.

And she never wanted to leave.

"Yield my lord." he said to the Lord with his sword pointed to his neck. Jae's smiling face looking down at him and he saw it then, the recognition, Randyl's eyes going wide.

"I yield." Randyl said as Jae leaned down to help him to his feet.

"Ser Richard Lonmouth will contact you, my lord, there is much we must speak on, about my father." he said softly and saw Randyl nod vigorously.

After helping him up Jae took the cheers from the crowd and moved to where the last few fights were taking place. Thoros had beaten Bronze Yohn and was facing the Blackfish and Ser Richard had beaten Ser Arys and was facing Ser Rolland who had defeated the Strongboar, leaving Jae with no opponent.

Closing his eyes he took a knee and went looking for the doors and found more than one, the wolves were busy and so it was birds he went to. All through the stands people were speaking of the fights and making wagers on who would win and he was happy to hear some speaking of him. He flew over the grounds and looked down at the fights below him and watched as Thoros blade came dangerously close to the Blackfish's face and as Ser Richard yielded to Ser Rolland.

As soon as the Kingsguard walked away Jae stood up and walked over to the giant Bastard of Nightsong, looking up at the man even from a distance away.

"Ser Rolland." he said with a nod when he reached the knight.

"Ser Jon." the knight said back to him.

"May the best bastard win Ser." he said with a smile and heard the man laugh.

"Aye, good fortune to you Ser Jon.".

"You too Ser.".

Ser Rolland was faster than the Smalljon and unlike with his friend from the North the last thing Jon wished was to make this man angry. Instead, he relied even more on his speed, moving in and out of his guard and ducking, jumping, spinning, and rolling to avoid being hit. After a few moments, he saw how frustrated the giant knight was getting and though his own blows were landing they were having no effect.

He then took a risk which almost cost him the match, moving fast to make the knight have to constantly readjust. he aimed to throw him off balance. Unfortunately, a leg sweep wouldn't work and he knew he'd need to push him and it needed to be timed just right, it wasn't. Whether it was still him being linked to the bird somehow or a sixth sense he couldn't be sure, all he knew was it saved him and so instead of the punch knocking him out. it only grazed him.

Not that it didn't hurt or knock him to the ground, but he remained conscious and when Ser Rolland walked over to him, he saw the opening and took it. As he reached him and went to place his sword to his neck Jae pushed himself and slid forward ending up between the men's legs, once there he aimed his punch upwards. He felt the weight of the man as he fell on him and it winded him for a moment, the knife held to Ser Rolland's neck getting him the yield and making Ser Rolland roll off him.

"Well fought lad." Ser Rolland said as he held his balls in his two hands, his strangled voice in complete contrast to the smile on his face.

"I thank you Ser." he said as he got up and felt the blood from his eye, the gauntlet having somehow caught him on the scar.

Jae shook his head and the tie from his hair fell loose, he then reached his hand up to the cut and felt the blood drip into his palm. He looked over to see Thoros walk away and figured that he had lost to the Blackfish, though he couldn't see the other man anywhere. Looking again he saw that Thoros was walking over to a bag and taking out a fresh sword and he watched as the red priest lit up the blade, the flames burning brightly as he moved toward him.

Ser Rolland was helped off the field and Jae stood there and waited for the red priest to come and face him, shaking his head to feel the blood slowing down, though it still dripped from his eye. He looked to the crowd and raised his hand up and heard them cheer, whether they were happy he was fit to continue or just wished to see another match though he couldn't be sure.

"My prince, shall we." Thoros said softly his smile beaming as he looked at him and Jae smiled back at him, glad he'd spoken so low.

"We shall." he said and they began to fight.

The blade came close to him and yet he never feared it, the heat not even registering, and soon he began to get the upper hand. Thoros's strikes were precise and strong but without the threat of the flames, they weren't nearly as effective. So little did he fear the flames that when it came near his face he didn't even flinch and it was Thoros who did instead of he. The red priest almost dropping his sword and then Jae knocking it to the ground a moment later.

"Yield?" he asked and Thoros nodded looking at him with a strange expression.

"You truly are his chosen." Thoros said and Jae didn't understand what he meant by that, at least until he looked to the sword on the ground.

The flames burned far brighter than they had when Thoros had set the sword alight, the heat also could now be felt from where they stood. As he moved to the blade he saw his blood drip on it and the flame grew brighter still. He kicked the sand over it and was relieved when it went out and he turned to look to the crowd.

"The winner of the melee, Ser Jon Snow." he heard the Herald say, and yet in his mind, he was thinking back to the flames and wondering what they had looked like to those in the crowd.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next as people react to the melee Jae meets with some loyalists and Cat meets with her children before a run-in with Jae. Willas steps in once again to help Sansa and an arrival from Dorne makes plans to carry out a terrible act. As I'm running a bit late and with this being the bonus there will be no answers to the reviews here, I'll double up in Tuesday's chapter, next week my timing may be a bit off, all stories will update when they're supposed to but I don't know how early they'll be up so it could be for next week just, all stories will update around this time