King's Landing 298 AC.
Arya.
She was more than excited for the day ahead, not only would Jon be spending time sparring with her and Lyanna but he had told them her that he had a surprise for her too. Whatever it was she couldn't wait for it and it was something that her father noticed as she hurriedly broke her fast. That he and Robb both teased her for her excitement made her feel as if both of them knew and were keeping it from her, but as she finished the last sausage she found she cared not.
"Arya, walk don't run." Elle said as she got up from the table.
"Sorry." she replied as she walked slowly to the door and then ran from there.
Arya had intended to run to Lyanna's room but she got no further than the end of the corridor before she saw Jon walking her way with two of his Kingsguard. Remembering her courtesies, something which both Maege and Elle told her was important and therefore something she actually put effort into, Arya walked to the king and attempted a curtsy, glaring at Jon for smirking at her.
"Pleased to meet you too, my lady." Jon said back and she mumbled as softly as she could though he still heard her call him stupid "I should send you to the dungeons." he said before mussing her hair and making her laugh.
"Can we go and get Lyanna J." she asked.
It was the one compromise she made with his name, Jaehaerys was a mouthful and Jae just didn't seem right to her. He was Jon and though she knew he was not, he always would be and she knew now she was not the only one who thought so. Robb had told her that he too saw their brother, not as the king or Jaehaerys Targaryen, even if he was both those things but as Jon, just like she did and Sansa did also. So Elle had suggested just calling him J, it worked for both she had said and so in public, and when she didn't slip up and call him Jon anyway, that's what she called him.
"She's waiting for us, come on little wolf, we've got a busy day ahead of us and you'll want your surprises too won't you?" Jon asked.
"Surprises? There's more than one?" she asked excitedly smiling when he nodded.
They walked from the Red Keep and out beyond the sparring grounds, Arya looking at him and frowning only to find he'd arranged somewhere quieter for them to spar. It was understandable, as each day he sparred he'd draw a crowd and while he'd told her that he partly did so on purpose, he also confided that he kept his true spars much more private. That she'd been invited to some of those too was she knew an honor as only family got to see Jon spar then. There were others even more secret than those that she knew no one did and she had wondered about those often.
"Lyanna." she said grinning as she ran over to her friend who was standing by the weapons rack, her mace already in her hand, and Arya happy to see there was more than one mace there.
Her friend went first, Jon spending time correcting Lyanna's stance and showing her why this one worked better than the other. She looked on as he showed her how to use the strikes against her to her advantage. Showing her how deflecting them away would unbalance an opponent and then explaining why movement was so important in a fight. By the time it was her turn, Arya was ready, overly so as she almost caught Jon with her first strike so eager had she been to begin.
"Don't use so much power, Arya, not right away, ease into it." Jon said.
"Why?" she asked curiously.
"You don't want to show your hand too soon, if you use all your power early not only will you tire yourself out but you'll also show far too much to your opponent, and they'll know what to expect. Vary it, confuse them, and when you've got them where you want, then you strike." Jon said and she glared at him when he moved and tripped her causing her to fall to the ground.
The rest of the lessons went really well though and she felt that both she and Lyanna had learned something valuable here today. They'd got some pointers from Ser Arthur too and had even convinced he and Jon to have a true spar. Arthur taking it seven to three, though she felt Jon was unlucky to not make it closer. Watching the Sword of the Morning wield Dawn against Jon wielding Dark Sister though was like something from the books. Both blades making the most incredible sound she'd ever heard when they clashed together.
It was as they were sitting drinking their water and eating the fruit and cheese that Jon had sent for them, that she got her first surprise of the day. Arya not having expected it and both her and Lyanna immediately nodding that yes they really did wish to compete in the Squire's duels but explaining how they'd not thought that girls would be allowed.
"You think I'd stop girls from fighting?" Jon asked.
"Aye, I mean no, we saw the melee, Lady Maege, Jory, Lyra, Brienne, Obara, Nymeria all of them competed." Arya said naming each of the women as if they were the heroes of old.
"Aye, your grace, we've also sparred with Princess Daenerys, so we know that you'd not see girls as unable to fight, but the melee is not the Squire's Duels and we'd thought…" Lyanna said nervously before Jon smiled at her.
"Well you thought wrong, Brienne was competing in them long before she took part in the melee, one day you, my little wolf and you little bear will no doubt be just as fierce as Lady Maege, Dacey, Jory, Lyra, or my cousins and aunt." Jon said and she looked to Lyanna who now wore a true smile at the thoughts of it.
Jon told them the rules, they weren't being sent out to hurt their opponent, just to beat them. Five points or a yield and he'd expect them to fight honorably and to accept their defeat or victory with grace. Both of them quickly agreeing to everything he said before Arya asked whether or not her father had agreed she could take part. She knew Lady Maege would certainly do so for Lyanna and were her father not here, her too. She worried though that her father may not be as accommodating as Jon or Lady Maege would.
"Aye, I spoke to your father and he agreed, as long as we would have this talk beforehand." Jon said and she wished to hug him tightly for doing so for her and would have if Lyanna hadn't been there.
Lyanna she soon found out wasn't to be part of her next surprise and she felt a little sad about that. She and her friend had grown more used to doing everything together than not. When she saw the Dragonpit come into view though she found that her excitement made her sadness retreat, for now at least. She was going to see a dragon close up, she was going to spend time with a dragon. As they entered she saw Rhaenix and was amazed by just how large and imposing she was, also surprisingly by how beautiful she looked when you got closer to her.
Her white scales were a far purer white than she'd imagined and the blue under her wings was a deeper shade than the blue of the sky or sea. She was huge, incredibly so, Arya feeling ever so small when they walked towards her. But it was the way that her eyes looked at her, the deep dark purple of them seeming to stare deep inside of her as if she was taking her measure. She felt the warmth when she touched the scales and looked on as Jon leaned his head against Rhaenix's own, speaking what she believed was Valyrian to the dragon.
"Are you ready?" Jon asked her and she looked at him disappointedly, having hoped they'd spend more time with the dragon than this.
"Aye." she said and he must have recognized her tone because he chuckled before looking at her.
"Arya, this isn't the end of your surprise, it's just the beginning of it. Now would my little sister like to go for a ride?" he asked raising his eyebrow.
"For true?" she asked looking at him to see if he was japing with her
"For true." he said reaching out to take her hand in his.
She wasn't nervous climbing up on the dragon, nor when Jon placed her in front of himself. No, she wasn't nervous at all, not until Jon said another word in Valyrian and she felt the dragon's wings begin to beat. Still despite that nervousness when they took to the sky she let out an excited yell. Her voice lost in the noise of Rhaenix's wings beating against the air as they were soon flying from the Draognpit. Arya found herself looking down and seeing King's Landing completely differently. The Red Keep, The Great Sept, and even the Dragonpit itself all looking so incredibly small to her as they flew over them.
After they had circled the city, she looked back at Jon expecting that was to be the end of her dragon ride, only to find it was anything but. Rhaenix instead headed out to sea, Arya looking as even the Pinnacle Ships looked small to her from this high up. The dragon then continued to fly and Arya found her eyes darting everywhere as she tried to see where they were going.
"Dragonstone." Jon said leaning in close to speak into her ear.
She'd only ever seen it in pictures and she found they didn't do it justice. The large volcano, the dragon something or other and then the keep itself, the home of the Targaryens of old and Dany's home now she'd heard. Looking at it she saw that it was actually designed to resemble a dragon. The keep from certain angles looking like a dragon in repose and she wondered how they'd been able to do that. They soon flew over cliffs and she then saw that the other dragons were there, resting she thought, but Rhaenix's roar soon showed they were waiting for her.
Before she knew what was happening there were five dragons in the sky and just seeing them all this close up was something she could never have imagined. Sandorix's golden scales and Rhaegal's green ones looking so vibrant as they flew over her head, close enough that she thought she could reach out and touch them. Ellagon's black and red making her look like the dragon was draped in that Targaryen colors, while Lygaron looked like fire itself when the sun caught his bronze scales. When all five of them roared she felt as if her ears would explode, laughing loudly when they did so again, and then she watched as the four dragons headed back to Dragonstone and she knew her day was nearly done.
The flight back to King's Landing was over far too quickly and she felt a bit of discomfort when she climbed down from the dragon's back. Jon once again going to speak to Rhaenix and Arya thanking the dragon and hearing her make a sound which she believed to be a happy one. When Rhaenix took to the sky, Arya looked up to wave the dragon farewell, the smile on her face one she'd perhaps been wearing for more than an hour or more.
"Thank you." she said grabbing hold of her brother and holding him tightly, feeling here tears threatening to fall.
"I love you little wolf, you never need thank me." Jon said.
"I love you too, Jon." she said hugging him ever more tightly.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Theon.
Waiting for your execution was a funny thing he'd found, the thoughts he'd been having since he'd been told ones that he'd not expected. He'd thought that he'd face his regrets face on and had found to his surprise that while that was true, the regrets weren't the ones he'd imagined they'd be. Instead of regretting that his actions had brought him here, he regretted the fact they forced him into those actions. Instead of regretting that he had attacked Arya Stark, he regretted that he'd not gutted the bitch instead of trying to make her his salt wife.
True he regretted having gone to Bear Island, but more because of the outcome, more because of being caught then because he felt it had been the wrong decision to make. That Asha had basically called him a fool to his face not helping either. His sister was upset he was to lose his head, Theon knew that, and yet a part of him felt that she really was not. She had been named Lady of the Iron Islands, the king himself promising to see her placed there, while he the heir to his father's throne was set to lose his head.
"Did you sell me out to get yourself a crown?" he asked and the punch he got in return loosened one of his teeth.
"Throne, what throne? Are you still the same stupid boy who arrived at Pyke telling tales of your brave escape, of how you paid the iron price for your boat, brother?"
"I paid the iron price often." he shouted.
"Aye, but not when you escaped you didn't, you think me the same as father? That I'd not have found out the truth about your grand escape? Then you really are a fool, Theon. As for a crown, I told you already there is only one king and he has dragons at his beck and call, ships are no match for dragons." She said her anger clear.
"Aye, but you sold me out all the same." he spat and the backhand she gave him did cost him a tooth.
"Sell you out, do you want to know what the king threatened me with? What he said he'd do to our people, to our mother? Sell you out? Even now I'd still think to rescue you were it not clear that my brother is a fool and it would cost me far more than our heads to do so." Asha said as she walked to the door and banged on it, leaving without looking back as he sat down on the bed.
She'd not been back either and he found that hurt a little, even though it had been his words and deeds which had forced her away. He had thought about demanding a trial by combat, the idea of facing down, and fighting a man for his life something that appealed to him until he thought about it more clearly. Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Walder, or Ser Barristan, with his luck it would probably be the king himself and he knew he'd have no chance against any of them. Also if he was being honest, the idea of dying in a fight scared him far more than the idea of losing his head, only one of the two would be quick and relatively painless.
Ever since the wolf bitch had unmanned him it had been that way, the idea of facing someone with a blade in their hand was enough to give him nightmares. Each time he'd look down and see what remained of his manhood those nightmares would happen even while he was awake. So he'd accepted his fate and his only hope was that Asha would change her mind, that she'd take the chance to free him and they'd sail far from where dragons flew. It was a forlorn one he knew but the only one that allowed him to pass the days without completely breaking down.
"You have a visitor." the guard said and Theon looked up as the door was opened.
He'd not expected to see Robb Stark, in fact, he'd hoped he'd never have to, but there he was standing no more than five feet away from him. He looked good, prosperous, he'd filled out some and grown into what no doubt would be considered a handsome man by most. His usual smile that Theon remembered though was nowhere to be seen, the glaring he was doing was to be expected though. It took him some time to speak as if he was carefully considering his words before he opened his mouth and when they came they were as expected.
"You were part of our family." Robb said angrily.
"Was I? or was I a hostage who was thrown to one side when the bastard came to visit?"
"Our king is not a bastard, and aye, you were, but why was that Theon? Whose fault was it?"
"Mine? You're saying it was mine?" he said loudly.
"Of course it was fucking yours. You were welcomed as a ward, not a damn hostage, you behaved as if you were a fucking lord, or do you not remember that?"
"I am a fucking lord." he shouted.
"You're a fucking squid. All those tales about how brave your people were, about what fine warriors they were, you got beaten by a girl, and lost your fucking balls because of it. You're lucky they caught you before I did." Robb said his voice rising.
"Lucky, you call this fucking lucky?"
"Had I caught you then aye, I do. Grey Wind would have seen to your end and it would not have been quick, Theon, I'd have seen to that. You were my friend once, aye, I considered you as such, and yet you sought to harm my sister. When you get to your Drowned Dod you look him in the eye and tell him what fucking happens to squids who dare attack wolves, you tell him Theon and you'll get to tell him soon."
He watched as Robb banged on the door and left him behind without giving him another glance. Once he'd gone he waited as long as he could before he broke down and began to sob. One day, many years earlier, he'd thought they'd be brothers in truth and not just by choice. Theon and Robb had both spoken of the same future, he as Lord of the Iron Islands and Robb as Lord of the North, joined in bonds of friendship and marriage. His friend's sister was always going to be a beauty, that much had been clear even then. Looking at her mother would only reinforce it and he'd dreamt of joining their houses and of Sansa being his rock wife more than once.
"Another wasted dream." he spat as he lay on the bed and faced the wall and faced whatever time he had left.
Hours, days, weeks, moons, he could have been here for any number of each for all he could tell. Each sunrise welcoming another day and he'd lost track of how many he'd been held for. Not just here, of course, he'd been a prisoner ever since they'd found him screaming and shouting as he held what was left of what made him a man in his hands. Here at least they treated him somewhat fairly he thought, they fed him well and he wasn't mocked or spoken down to each and every day.
After breaking his fast he was surprised when Asha came to visit it had gods knew how long since he'd seen her. His sister appeared to be in a more somber mood and it didn't take him long to find out why. Theon not being able to respond when he found out he was to be executed on the morrow.
"In front of everybody?" he asked and she shook her head.
"I don't know, I'd imagine so." she said softly.
"Asha I…I.…" he said shakily.
"I know little brother." she said reaching out her hand to take his own.
They sat there for some time, Asha not leaving or saying anything and he was happy to see there were two meals brought and that he would get to have his sister sit and eat with him. The meal ended far too soon though and he watched as the plates were carried away. He felt her then, holding him tight and he sobbed against her shoulder, welcoming the comforting feel of her arms around him. She promised to see his body was given back to the sea and to tell their mother that he died well, and then she left him alone once more.
This time the solitude felt even worse and when the door opened once more later that night he was glad of the company until he saw who that company actually was. Why Ned Stark had chosen to come to him? Why he'd not just let him face the sword and die without having to look into his eyes, Theon knew not. What he'd come to say to him though he imagined wouldn't far too different than what Robb had said.
"Tomorrow you'll lose your head." Ned Stark said softly.
"Aye."
"It's well deserved."
He didn't respond, he knew it was and there was no point in denying it to this man. Ned Stark of all people believed in just sentences for a man's crimes.
"What you did, what you tried to do to my daughter, were I to be the one to swing the sword on the morrow then I cannot guarantee it would be clean." Ned said surprising him.
"No, I'd imagine you could not."
"Were we so bad? Was your life so terrible? Aye eventually you got treated like a hostage, but before that we treated you…I treated you as a ward, almost as kin."
"Almost, but I was never kin was I?" he said with some bite.
"Of course you weren't. But had you behaved better, had you not acted how you did then you may right now still be facing a future. Your sister is to be named as Lady of the Iron Islands, had you been more worthy then you'd have been named lord, but instead…"
"I'm a reaver, Lord Stark, it's in my blood, I was born a Kraken not a wolf, I could never have been what you wished me to be."
"No, I suppose you could not." Ned said turning to walk away.
Theon waited until he got to the door until it was opened and Ned was just about to walk through it. He looked up and tried to say the words, finding them hard to come to him but thankful when they did.
"I'm sorry." he said far more softly than he'd wished to.
"Aye, so am I, Theon" Ned Stark said as he walked away.
He didn't sleep that night, nor eat to break his fast the next morning. The meal arriving at the crack of dawn being a clear sign that he was not to see much of this day and it was enough to remove any appetite he had. Dressing in the clean clothes that were provided for him, he was then led from the cell and soon enough found himself being led up some stairs. Where they were bringing him, he could only imagine. Thoughts of the Dragonpit or the Tourney grounds fresh in his mind, only to find it was to be neither. Nor was it as public as he expected and while the Lords of the North were there, there were very few Lords of the South present at all.
The block was though and when he looked at it he felt his legs begin to give way, felt his courage begin to desert him and he knew he was on the verge of shaming himself and his house even more. The voice came to him though, the words something he'd heard many years earlier. Words that had been spoken to him by a man who for a time at least had been more of a father than his own had ever been. A man who now sat with his family looking on as Theon found the strength to walk to the block and accept his fate.
"Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?" he asked as he, Robb, and Ned Stark sat in the Wolfswood.
"That's the only time a man can be brave." Ned Stark said.
The walk took no time at all and he looked to see the king was standing there looking at him. There was no anger in his eyes, hatred yes, but no anger and he thanked the Drowned God for that. The two Kingsguard helped him to his knees and he leaned his head forward over the block. When he heard the sound of the sword being removed from the king's back, he hoped the blade would be sharp and true, happy to see the shimmers that marked it as Valyrian steel.
"Theon Greyjoy, you've been found guilty of oath-breaking, reaving, and attacking one of the Seven Kingdoms. You've been found guilty of the attempted rape of Arya Stark and are brought here to received your just sentence. I Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Third of My Name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, do sentence you to die. Do you have any last words?" the king asked.
He shook his head and looked to see Asha sitting looking his way with tears in her eyes. Closing his own he waited for the sword to fall and tried not to let the images that were flashing in front of his eyes overwhelm him. He was playing in the courtyard of Winterfell with Robb, listening on as Sansa spoke of knights and heroes, laughing when Arya grabbed an extra dessert and looking on as Bran climbed the Broken Tower. He saw the smile as he looked to the bailey after he hit the target dead center. The proud look on that long face, and the grey eyes sparkling as he did so again and then he saw nothing at all as the sword took his head.
King's Landing 298 AC.
The Squires duels.
Dacey.
She smiled as she looked out on the field, Jae had asked Margaery to try and replicate as best they could the arena in Lannisport. That they'd done such a decent job of it without actually building something more permanent was an incredible feat. Dacey was perhaps the fourth most excited person in the crowds that were waiting for the duels to begin. Kevan was eager to see Martyn compete, his son having become more and more talented over the years. Her mother wished to see Lyanna and Arya take part as did she and Jae looked so very different from how he had during the melee. The sullen, jealous look that he'd worn when Oberyn and others had fought was replaced now with the eager more excited one of a young boy.
That some of those competing meant so much to him was part of it she knew. Walder had just about managed to miss the cut-off point, he, Willem, and Martyn all were set to compete, Arya and Lyanna too she'd been pleased to hear. Tommen would be taking part in his first-ever competition also and as they were all led out, she could see that Jae wished he was down there with him and the others. Something she pointed out to Jaime as he held Joanna and looked on.
"Aye, I know, I actually had to tell him that he couldn't squire for them." Jaime said as he Joanna picked one of the berries from the bowl he held in his hand.
"Who did he wish to squire for?" she asked curiously.
"All of them." Jaime said with a chuckle "I speak no lie and as much fun as it would have been seeing the king run around after each of them, I had to tell him he could not."
She smiled at the image, knowing that it was something that Jae would do were he not wearing a crown and so not at all surprised it was something he wished to do while wearing one. The crowd hushed when instead of a herald it was Jae himself who rose to speak. Dacey immediately seeing the smile on his face when he looked out at those who'd be fighting today.
"My queen, My Lords and Ladies, Men and Women of King's Landing and Westeros, I'm so happy to have you all join me here today for the Squire's Duels."
She watched as he raised his hand to bid the crowd quieten and as he looked down warmly at those who were lined up.
"When I was a boy, My Lord Hand was the very first to hold a squire's dueling competition, his words to me were somewhat the same that I'll offer to each of you ready who are here to compete. You are the future of Westeros, it's future Lords and Ladies, it's future knights of the realm. Fight with pride and honor and know that there is no shame in defeat and while there is glory in victory, each of you will learn valuable lessons today. Be brave, be strong, and give it your all, and know that your king is proud of each of you.
My Queen, My Lords, and Ladies, I give you the future warriors of Westeros, I give you The Squires Duels." Jae said to cheers.
A few moments later she watched on as two young boys faced off, neither of them more than seven or eight namedays and she was glad to see them shake hands after the fight with the king cheering them on loudly. Willem beat a lad from House Grafton, while Martyn easily disposed of a larger lad who was squire to a hedge knight. Dacey seeing as Jae gave him a simple nod which brightened Martyn's face up considerably.
"Look it's Lyanna." she heard her mother say and they both looked on as Lyanna faced off against a young Dornish lad.
"Spear against mace, this should be fun." Jaime said and even Dacey felt the sharp point of her mother's elbow as it hit her him when she had misinterpreted what her husband was saying.
Lyanna struggled for a moment, but only for a moment, Dacey watching as her little sister began to deflect rather than parry the blows. The victory coming to loud cheers from her and her sisters, their mother now holding Joanna and whispering in her ear, and Dacey wondering if she was already promising her daughter her very own mace. Walder beat young Lyman Darry, though it was a close fight and only a slip from the younger boy had gained Walder the victory.
The second round saw slightly longer fights and she was glad to see both Arya and Lyanna come out victorious. Tommen had gained a forfeit win to enter the second round and she looked on as he walked out nervously for his now first fight. The boy looking to the king and nodding before he looked to the crowd and waved up at his sister.
Myrcella had not wished to come back to King's Landing and had done so under protest. She had stayed mainly at the Lannister manse rather than go anywhere near the Red Keep itself. It was something that she could understand and were it not for the fact of meeting her future goodfamily and spending time with her brother, she knew that Genna would never have made her come. The girl was smiling and looked far happier now though as Tommen took up his stance. Dacey watching him with a keen eye, his movements unsurprisingly a copy of those that he'd seen Jae do. She turned to see her husband was watching just as keenly and then Jaime smiled when Tommen got a yield, the boy's eyes immediately looking to the king's for approval, which he got before he left.
"He did very well." she said softly leaning in close to Jaime.
"Aye he did, remember what he was like the first time we put a sword in his hand?" Jaime said and she chuckled remembering the almost terrified young boy.
"He's come a long way from there." she said as she sat back to watch the remainder of the duels.
Margaery.
He may as well be down there with them she thought as she watched Jae make little moves each time someone he knew fought. Willem, Walder, Arya, Lyanna, Tommen, and Martyn who she knew was his favorite. Not that he cared for him more than the others, especially with his sister competing. But more he saw it in the boy, the skill, the talent and she knew that both he and Loras saw him as they had once been. A boy who was skilled with a blade was how Jae had thought himself for quite some time, Loras too, and yet they were both of them were so much more.
When Arya fought her third fight Margaery saw Jae move to the edge of his seat. She winced when the girl took a blow though it didn't seem to affect her any as she still took the day. Lyanna Mormont would not be so lucky though she thought as she had drawn against Martyn and would be coming up in a little while. Walder fell to Ned Dayne and she knew that Jae felt it would come down to him and Martyn to take the day. Something she had found out that all the swordsmen believed would be the outcome.
It was funny, each of them fought so very different, and yet all thought the same way too. Jae used speed and spins and Loras could be flashy at times but his technique was his biggest strength. Ser Barristan was all about the fundamentals as Jae would say and Jaime and Arthur combined the best of most of everything. Even the princess had her own style when she fought and as Margaery looked out at the squires fighting now, she could see it was something that they all shared. Whatever attributes they had as young boys just starting out seemed to get worked on to make them better when they grew to be men. It was no different than women she supposed, their own skills and talents emphasized and improved upon to become their greatest strengths.
"My wife seems lost in thought?" Jae said moving his head closer so as to speak softly to her.
"I was just thinking on these duels." she said.
"Something you'd like to share?" he asked and she shook her head though soon thought of something else she wished to.
"Remember the first one?" she asked and he nodded before getting a wistful look on his face.
"Aye, though I find myself remembering the girl in the crowd more and more than they duels when I think on it." he said and she kissed his lips softly before they turned back to watch the rest of the duels.
Tommen came out to fight a larger boy from House Umber, the northern lad seeming almost twice his size and she wondered if he was an Umber himself.
"Is he?" she asked and Jae shook his head.
"No, you'd think it though, but he's from a mountain house, squires for Crowfood." Jae said and she looked at him as if he was japing.
"Crowfood, who's that?" she asked.
"Mors, the Greatjon's brother." Jae said as he looked to Tommen and motioned something with his hand.
"Why is he called…no I don't want to know do I?" she said and Jae chuckled as he shook his head.
Margaery looked back out as Tommen began to move in a circle, his feet moving far faster than the other boy could turn to face him. He never swung his sword, instead using it to thrust and to take a point here and there, moving out of the way of the larger boy's fiercer strikes when it looked as if he was trying to take Tommen's head from his shoulders. One, two, three, four points Tommen took without reply before he stopped to spin and she turned to see Jae lower his head and close his eyes. When he opened them the large boy was standing over a fallen Tommen, the blow he'd been caught with had ended the fight and would be a painful reminder to Tommen later on she felt.
"Is he badly hurt?" she asked Barristan beside her and the knight shook his head.
"Only his pride, your grace."
"I told him to move." Jae said his disappointment clear and that he wasn't worried for his squire allowed her to relax, though he still sent a servant to make sure that he was seen by a Maester immediately just in case.
Ned.
It was so much different to normal sparring and he'd thought long and hard before he'd agreed to Jae's request. If anything it had actually been Maege Mormont and not his nephew who'd convinced him, as he knew that she'd not stop Lyanna from competing. Knowing that her best friend would be taking part, Ned knew that he couldn't stop Arya from doing likewise. That she was doing so well wasn't a surprise to him at all as he'd seen her spar often and he looked on proudly watching her show off her skills.
She'd beaten three opponents easily, barring a strike to the shoulder that had made Elle wince, his wife had not been as convinced as he about allowing Arya to fight in the duels. That Sansa was on Arya's side only showed the differences in his daughter since she'd come south, he'd been ever more amazed by the young woman that she'd become. Ned held a father's pride for all of his children. Robb was to be married not long after they returned to the North and today sat with the Manderly's and his betrothed. Sansa for once sat with him and Ella, not that she had ignored hem or not spent time with them but he knew she preferred to sit with the Tyrells and Lady Olenna's grandson most of all. The new Master of Coin was a good man according to Wyman, both of them soon to set off together on a trip to Braavos to gather some coin that had once belonged to the Golden Company or something of that nature.
"Look father, it's Lyanna." Sansa said and he looked to see Lyanna Mormont walking out beside the young Lannister lad.
He soon caught a glimpse of Arya standing at the gate looking on and he smiled before he looked down to where Maege and the other Mormont's sat with proud looks on their faces. Should she win then she'd be in the final eight, only three more matches from victory, though he knew she'd have her work cut out to do so. Ned saw the little nod that the Lannister lad, Martyn, gave to the king, his nephew having nodded to the boy as soon as they appeared. It made him look on even more eagerly at the fight to come, now keener to see just what the boy could do.
Martyn moved quickly and when Lyanna tried to deflect his blow he spun away and then into her, catching her on the arm before moving away. The second strike was just as fast, this time to her leg and though he didn't hit either of them with all his strength, Ned could see they hurt all the same. He easily parried Lyanna's own blows and then when she reached too far he caught her with a riposte and another blow as she tried to back away. Four to none and it had taken him less than a couple of moments to do so, Ned finally seeing why Jaehaerys seemed so eager to acknowledge Martyn when he'd entered.
The end came at the cost of a point, Lyanna catching him with a double feint and though he had caught her with a strike in return, Ned could see the annoyance on his face. Soon enough it was gone though and Martyn and Lynnaa shook hands, both of them speaking to each other as friends when they left. Looking up to where his nephew sat, Ned could see a small smirk on his face. Though it was one not shared by the Mormonts as they looked more disappointed then irked at Lyanna's loss.
Loras.
Watching the squire's duels was for some reason far more exciting to him than the melee had been and at first, he didn't know why. He had known people competing in both, three of his Kingsguard brothers took part in the melee along with some others that he knew. While in the squire's duels he had Genna and Kevan's boys along with Jae's sister and her friend. So it hadn't been that which had made it so much more exciting for him to look upon.
Instead, he was starting to think it was simply watching those compete and reflecting upon the times when he and Jae had competed in them too. Looking out as Martyn beat the young Mormont girl, Loras was taken back to watching Jae fight while he stood on the sidelines at Lannisport. When it came time for Jae's sister to fight once more, he looked to see his friend was looking on eagerly. Arya set to face Ned Dayne and Loras sighed at that knowing the girls' day was done.
As they took up their stances, Loras looked to Arthur who was looking on just as eagerly as Jae was. How the Sword of the Morning managed to do it while also being able to keep an eye out for threats was beyond him. Jaime having told him that perhaps Arthur and Barristan were the only two who could do so easily. Not that there were any threats to Jae or Margaery here. His friend and his sister were already well on their way to being loved by the smallfolk and would soon be loved for true, Loras having listened in to some of the plans they had to make the lives of the people even better.
He looked on as Ned Dayne took the first point, the boy's sword was like an extension of his arm, and he knew that a lot of that was down to pure simple natural talent. Lord Beric was a decent blade and Thoros of Myr a very good one, even without the fire, but neither were as good trainers as Jaime or Arthur he'd wager. Yet the young Dayne lad had still come along far more than another would have under their guidance, far more he thought when Ned took a second point.
The boy was not to have it his own way though as Arya took a point off him before he took the third. Loras looking on even more eagerly now as he glanced to see Jae doing likewise. Whether it was the unorthodox way Arya fought or that Ned had underestimated her. Or maybe simply they were getting more used to each other, the fifth point took a while to be won. Arya blocking every blow that Ned aimed before catching him on the shoulder. Even Loras winced and he looked to Jae who'd moved a little forward in his seat, his king sensing an upset no doubt.
Arya took the sixth point while Ned still recovered from the blow although once he had the boy was far more precise in his movements and strikes. Eventually breaking through Arya's defenses to gain his fourth and then the winning point with a beautiful thrust that even he would have had difficulty avoiding. Loras watched as they shook hands, Arya's frown at losing soon being replaced with a smile as they headed to the back.
When he looked back at Jae he saw him sitting back in his seat, a small smirk on the king's face as he looked to where the Starks sat. Loras turned to look at Arthur who wore the self same smirk, both of them proud of their kin for the fight they'd just given. The next fight was far less exciting, Willem not doing as well as his brother and losing to a young man from the North and then Tion was beaten by a young Stormlander. When Martyn came out to face a lad from the Riverlands, Loras looked to see that Jae had moved forward in his seat once again.
"Just like Jaime used to do with him." he thought with a chuckle as Martyn easily won his match.
Gerion.
His nephew's had done well, Tion and Willem making it to the last eight, Walder having been beaten earlier but still putting up a decent showing, and Martyn now into the final two. Kevan's lad had shown his mettle over and over out there, each match almost looking easier and easier to him. The last two had been five to one victories and as Gerion looked out at young Ned Dayne readying to fight, he caught Ashara looking on nervously. The reason why was very clear, Ned was easily dwarfed by the boy he faced who was from the North.
"Is he truly below the age?" Ashara whispered and Gerion leaned in close to answer.
"I'm sure he is my love." he said taking her hand in his.
It was different being with her now, the two of them even more truly together than they had been since they'd wed. Gerion had finally managed to give up the ghosts of the past, for now at least he thought as he glanced at Joy who was eating peanuts with Walder and Tion. Though there was still time to cross that river and tell that tale to his daughter and at Jae's advice it wouldn't be for a while that he did so. Both him seeing justice done for Briony and Ashara finally being free to be who she truly was had changed things between them.
When she'd come to him and told him of the offer that had been made to Cregan he'd been both delighted for the boy and a little sad knowing that he'd be in the North and not the West. That he'd offered some coin to help with the building was the least he could do and as with his own tale for Joy, they'd not shared that one with her just yet either. Ashara wishing her to enjoy the tourney before they sprang it on her that Cregan would be moving away to the North. It was the other thing that she'd sprung on him that had changed things between him and his wife.
"I am who I've wished to be for so long, Gerion, I'm finally myself again." Ashara said happily.
"Ash?"
"There was a meeting of the Northern lords, where Cregan and I were invited and where Ned revealed the truth about us both." Ashara said.
"He surprised you with this?" he asked a little angrily.
"No, he suggested it. With Cregan to be named as Lord of Sea Dragon Point, it was bound to come up and so we spoke and he suggested that if we wanted to then we could speak on the truth of things."
"It went well?" he asked worriedly.
"It went well." she smiled.
"So Ashara Dayne lives once more." he said chuckling.
"No, Ashara Lannister lives." she said with a beaming smile.
Four words she'd said to him and things had been changed forever between them, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her. The woman she had almost been hiding from view was now finally out in full show once more. That she could now interact with her family, be seen speak to young Ned as an aunt or to Allyria as a sister, or could wear her house's colors if she so wished had made her almost glide at times. She was happy he knew that, happy in who she was and happy with him and though he'd not believed himself worthy of loving anyone again, he loved her with all that he had in him.
Gerion looked on as Ned took the match and Ashara and Joy cheered him on. Joy even more loudly once Ashara had told her that Ned was her nephew just as Martyn or Tion were his.
"Does that make him my cousin too?" Joy asked
"If you so wish." Ashara said and Joy nodded.
"I wish, I want lots of cousins, just like Jon has." Joy said as she offered Ashara a peanut which his wife took.
He almost broke out in laughter at the look on his daughter's face when the last fight was to take place, her new cousin was fighting her older one, and Joy not able or best pleased to have to be neutral. When he caught her looking from Martyn to Kevan and from Ned and Ashara, Gerion lost his fight and the laughter came out. The glare his daughter shot him when she realized he was laughing at her one which only made him laugh louder.
"You can cheer for who you wish, Joy, either way, our family wins." he heard Ashara say and caught the look Joy sent Jae's way and then his daughter's suddenly more serious face.
"Martyn will win." she said before nodding.
Win he did, the match ending five to three, and while Ned Dayne was good, his nephew was someone who'd just gotten better and better. Gerion looked to see Kevan, Dorna, Lancel, and Willem cheering him on, Janei having been left with Dorna's mother and sisters as it was far too loud for her to be here. Martyn and Ned both bowed to the king and queen, Gerion watching as Ned soon walked away leaving Martyn there alone to take the plaudits his victory deserved and as Jae stood up.
"My queen, My Lords and Ladies, good men and women of King's Landing and Westeros, It is with great pleasure I give you the winner of the Squire's Duels, Martyn Lannister." Jae said as the crowd cheered louder now.
When he looked to Martyn he could see that his nephew felt proud, almost as much as his father and mother did of him, though it was the looks between Jae and Martyn he found himself concentrated on. Kevan had initially been put out by Jae's arrival, then over time he and Genna had seen how he interacted with their children. How the boys looked up to him and how Jae would spend time with each of them going over their movements and offering tips, just as he was now doing to his other nephew now. It had lit a fire under them, each of the boys wishing to get better and none more so than Martyn.
As Martyn turned and walked from the ring, Gerion couldn't help but wonder. Would his nephew have always been this good? Or was it that he had someone to look up to that made him so? It was perhaps something he'd never know and so instead he concentrated on the fact his nephew had just won. Soon finding he was laughing and japing with Joy when she told him that she'd known he would all along and that Jae had told her to put her coin on Martyn before the duels began.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
Watching Martyn win had been incredibly satisfying. To see the young man show off his skills in such a way was something that Jae was very happy about. That Arya, Willem, Tion, and Walder and even Lyanna Mormont and Ned Dayne had all done well only made the duels an even bigger success. While he knew that Jaime had come up with the idea to show him off, it was an idea that had so much merit. After this he knew more young boys and girls would seek to get that little bit better, to improve, and to have a chance to compete in their own squire's duels. That over time the more they held them the more others would do so too and that could only be to the realm's benefit he thought.
Which led him to things which most certainly were not, events in the Vale. He'd had ravens sent to all the major houses, the one's not presently here and of course to the Eyrie. The scrolls they carried naming Lord Yohn as Warden of the East and Lord of the Vale and the one to the Eyrie calling Harrold Hardyng to account. Come swear fealty and be named as Lord of the Eyrie under certain conditions, do not, and suffer the consequences. It wasn't a request, it was an order and one he wasn't sure how it would be taken.
Harrold Hardyng though was not where his mind was really at in relation to the Vale though and he wondered when Richard would receive the news. His Master of Whisperers had a way of communicating even more quickly than simply using ravens, it was something he'd not shared with him and truthfully not something he needed to know. All that mattered was Richard could learn and move news far faster than any apart from maybe himself. Certainly, on this he had him beat as he already knew what had happened and who was being brought to him. Something he knew he needed to share.
"You don't seem happy, Jae?" Margaery said as the carriage headed back to the Red Keep.
"What?" he said distractedly having not heard her right.
"I said my husband doesn't look as happy as I'd have expected, especially considering his favored won the duels."
"Martyn is not my favorite." he said seeing Margaery's smirk.
"Good, I'd hate to think what Arya would do to you if she thought he was." Margaery said and he chuckled at the thought of it.
"As would I. I'm just a little distracted, we'll talk when we get back to our rooms." he said taking her hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss it softly.
What they were to talk of was a tricky subject as he still wasn't sure what he'd do with the woman who'd sent men to kill him more than once. The king in him demanded her head, almost willed him to take it, that voice getting louder each time he thought of her.
The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.
That voice had been shouted down though, just as the one which had commanded him to take Doran's head had been. There was another darker voice he heard, one which had been speaking to him for a long time, and one he knew was how he truly felt about those who wronged him so completely.
She doesn't deserve a clean death.
She is the reason that Alyrs lost his life.
His wife, his children had to grow up without a father because of her hatred.
Her family almost ended your own and she'd have seen that their work was done.
That voice spoke only the truth, Hoster's ambition, Lysa's anger, Catelyn's hatred. Each of them had played their part in costing him almost everything, his mother, his father, even him, all of their blood would have been on their fishy hands if they'd had their way.
So it had been that voice that he'd listened to, that voice that had helped him to form a plan and then events which had allowed him to modify and make the necessary changes to that plan. Doran had died far too quickly and though he'd suffered he'd not suffered nearly enough. His heart giving in long before his head did and he'd sword he'd not make the same mistake with Catelyn Tully. Doran had almost taken Margaery from him, Catelyn Tully had almost taken him from her. Both of them were just as guilty as each other.
"We're here, Jae." Margaery said looking concernedly at him, Jae trying his best to smile reassuringly and only halfway succeeding.
He walked with his wife through the corridors and to their room, ostensibly to ready for the night's feast though he was already growing weary of them. That his uncles, all of them, took great pleasure in his annoyance only making him dislike the feasts and at times his uncles, that much more. No wonder the stag got fat and drank a lot he thought as he took off his tunic and opened his shirt, giving out a small laugh at the relieved sigh that came from Margaery when she took her shoes off.
"Give me." he said moving over to her and seeing her smile as he took one of her feet in his hands.
She closed her eyes as he began to rub her foot softly, a small contended moan coming from her as his hands did their work. Once done with the first one he took the second one and repeated the process, Margaery leaning back on her elbows while he worked out the stiffness and hurt from her delicate feet.
"That feels so good." she said when he finished and he smirked when she wiggled her toes.
"I'm glad to be of service my queen." he said getting up and walking over before filling her a glass of juice and briging it to her.
They sat there drinking the juice for a few moments, Margaery eager to hear what had made him so distracted and Jae trying his best to figure out how to tell her it. In the end, he decided that simplicity was the best option and so he just came right out with it.
"They captured Catelyn Tully in Gulltown." he said as he took his wife's empty glass and laid it down on the table standing there with his back to her as she sat on the bed.
"Littlefinger?" she asked.
"On a ship to Essos, Braavos to be more precise."
"He got away, how, I thought, Richard?"
"They didn't factor how much of a craven Littlefinger truly is, nor what depths he'd sunk too." he said with a note of disgust.
"Depths?"
"He was drugging his new wife almost daily, laying with her in that state too. I think he was long past caring for the woman and was using her thinking her a shield." he said, the words some he'd picked up from the eagle and some form other things he'd warged into.
"What do you intend to do about him?" she asked curiously.
"Oh don't worry about him, Willas and Wyman won't be going to Braavos alone." he said with a smile and she nodded.
"Catelyn?" she asked and he shook his head.
"I need to tell my uncle and to speak to Robb, Sansa, and Arya about her. I…she's their mother and I can't do anything publicly other than sending her to the Sept or the silent sisters." he said shaking his head.
"She should lose her head." Margaery said angrily.
"Marge, I..she…"
"No Jae, she should lose her head, she tried to kill you. How would you think were it me? Would you not wish her dead? Would you not demand her head, by the seven I know you Jae, you'd wish to take it yourself." Margaery said her voice rising as she walked over to him.
"She's their mother." he said softly.
He felt her arms come around him, her chin on his shoulder and she leaned against his back. Margaery then making it clear that though she was comforting him, she didn't agree with him about Catelyn Tully's sentence.
"Who tried to kill my love." Margaery said her lips now close his ear "I wish her dead, Jae, for daring to try such a thing, for even considering taking you away from me. I know she's your sibling's mother and I know how hard that makes it, but I wish her dead. My family would also and you know Jaime would tell you the same thing, Dany, Tyrion, Shiera even Aemon I'd wager, would all tell you to take her head."
He knew she was right and he turned to her and looked into her eyes, knowing that he could tell her the truth about what he planned and she'd be behind him completely. That he could tell her about the dreams and the thoughts he put in Catelyn's head, thoughts that only added to the ones that were there already. Fear was an incredibly powerful thing he'd found, something everyone shared and once you looked deeply enough into someone, then you could find out what I was they were truly afraid of.
Jae had done that with Catelyn and found that what she feared most of all was him, so he'd used that against her. He'd set the spark within her that he was coming and that nothing she nor anyone else could do would stop him or save her. He'd set that spark and then he'd let it grow and all he'd needed to do was add a little kindling to the fire each time to make it burn brighter than even the sun. What he was doing was monstrous, he knew that. To strip away the layers of a person's mind, to use their fears against them and slowly make them question everything. He knew Catelyn had barely slept so fearful was she of her dreams and yet not once did he feel a monster for doing that to her. Looking at Margaery he wondered if she'd think him one should he tell her. Was it something that you kept to yourself or shared and didn't he promise her that he always would share with her? Together, Always, he thought as he kissed her.
"I can't take her head, Marge, not publicly, not as far as my uncle or family know, I've known that for the longest time but you're right she has to die and for what she did, for what she tried, I don't wish it to be quick."
"Jae?"
"She tried to take me from you, my love. So let me tell you what I've taken and will take from her." he said as he began to tell her everything.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed unfortunately my work is still causing me time problems and so I've not got to the response to the reviews, I've read them and I will but I ask you to bear with me for now. Up Next The Jousts, the Wall gets some of its new arrivals, Jae speaks to the Starks about Catelyn and Olenna speaks to Jae and Margaery before she and Willas bring an offer to Ned. While Jae spends time with another of his sister as he and Sansa speak on the future.
